Looking back at everything we experience in life the one unavoidable fact is that moments make up all the time we have on this Earth. Moments provide us with memories that we remember for the rest of our lives, and those that we would just assume forget. These places in time foster emotion, spark relationships and build character that define all of us.
Within these moments we make time for many things that serve our own interests, however, we tend to forget the one who gives us all we have. God.........
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Being Heard
I had a thought the other day while pondering how God speaks to us. I have spoken to many people out there who have been deeply moved in some way by God's voice in their life. Some of us get an ominous feeling; others tend to have visions, dreams or intense thoughts of God speaking to them. How incredible would it be to sit in a random place and have God just appear to you and chat it up? It’s like a thousand times better than having the Schwan’s guy show up on your door step and tell you that anything on his truck is yours for free. It doesn't even compare though.....
There are those Christians out there that grade their relationship and level of commitment by the “messages” or feelings they receive from God. I know there have been several times when I have become dismayed because I did not experience some incredible moving feeling inside me. I used to think that my relationship with God was poor because I didn't get that "special feeling." It took a long time to figure out that God is here speaking to me even when I don’t get a physical or mental communique. He speaks to me through the bible, His everlasting word.
All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
So do we need to wait for God to speak with us, or can we simply talk with Him whenever we feel the need? The latter of these two concepts is the correct answer. Prayer is such an under rated and underutilized tool these days. Do you wait for the doctor to come to you when you are sick, or do you go to him/her? When you needed money from your parents, did you expect them to come to you or did you go to them? And when you wanted to go to that concert, did the band come perform at your house or did you have to go see them? I know God is standing next to me because I feel the need to just get down on my knees and pray from time to time. Moral of the story: God is in each of our lives though we can’t always hear Him, touch Him, or see Him. All we need to do is speak and He will hear.
Psalm 32:1-11
1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
2 Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Strong Silence
Mountains stand tall on the horizon ever moving and shifting as time marches on. All kinds of weather come to bear on the surface while changes take place deep inside on a daily basis. Some mountains find themselves alone in this world. They stand alone as stone cold giants, fiery monsters, or small wonders that rise out of the land. Some mountains run seemingly together as a part of ranges that span hundreds of miles. Each mountain has it's own story, some short, some long, yet each is different than the next.
We are definitely not mountains, yet our lives share such similarities with these granite and earthen giants that sprinkle the canvas of our nation. In life we will find ourselves with or without people surrounding us depending on many uncontrollable circumstances. God offers us strength in the midst of loneliness, strength in when we feel alone in a crowd of many, and strength that will outlast anything this world can throw your way.
Psalm 125
1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
We are definitely not mountains, yet our lives share such similarities with these granite and earthen giants that sprinkle the canvas of our nation. In life we will find ourselves with or without people surrounding us depending on many uncontrollable circumstances. God offers us strength in the midst of loneliness, strength in when we feel alone in a crowd of many, and strength that will outlast anything this world can throw your way.
Psalm 125
1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
A lesson on the River
Patience is certainly a virtue that I try to indulge in whenever I get the chance. Take today for instance, fishing on the river for pink salmon and sturgeon. Let's cover some facts first before I go any further with this story. My wife will attest to the fact that the name Mike Cifu does not strike fear into any fish. In fact, I get the feeling sometimes many of them are somehow laughing when I throw my hook in the water. How the truth hurts! Moving on, I did get myself a salmon on this occasion, however, the sturgeon were not biting. Sturgeon fishing is definitely a waiting game. It does not require multiple casts of the rod and reel, on the contrary, it calls for extreme patience and concentration. At times I felt like a polar bear waiting for hours for that one seal who might poke it's head through the ice (water in this case). I didn't end up catching any sturgeon, but I did catch a tan/sunburn. We'll run with tan for right now........
I learned from my waiting game with the fish that it pays to just be still, and secondly, it pays off to have enough trust to be patient for something or someone. In the same way God wants us to be still and patient with our lives.
Psalm 37:7-9 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.
Does this mean that we can't be ambitious or "hit the ground running" when it comes to certain things in life? No! This all goes back to God's desire of free will for us; each human being making their own choices in life as they perceive forks in the road. Don't be so busy that you miss God, miss His creation, and miss out on the incredible peace He wishes for all of us. Today on the river when we knew that the time for fishing had drawn to a close, we sat in the boat and felt an inner peace and amazement as we looked toward the mountains extending skyward from the river and surrounding fields. All I thought at that moment was, thank you!
Psalms 40
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done.
I learned from my waiting game with the fish that it pays to just be still, and secondly, it pays off to have enough trust to be patient for something or someone. In the same way God wants us to be still and patient with our lives.
Psalm 37:7-9 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.
Does this mean that we can't be ambitious or "hit the ground running" when it comes to certain things in life? No! This all goes back to God's desire of free will for us; each human being making their own choices in life as they perceive forks in the road. Don't be so busy that you miss God, miss His creation, and miss out on the incredible peace He wishes for all of us. Today on the river when we knew that the time for fishing had drawn to a close, we sat in the boat and felt an inner peace and amazement as we looked toward the mountains extending skyward from the river and surrounding fields. All I thought at that moment was, thank you!
Psalms 40
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Uncertainty
I took a good look at the articles covering mainstream news websites over this past week. Wow, negativity city! If you didn't need medication for depression or anxiety before, you will after that experience. Let's face the fact that bad news is not all over the media channels anymore just because it sells. It's in your face because "bad" is everywhere you turn now a days. Never fear though because there is a God up above who is here to save us from all of the issues that we get into. God doesn't promise that everything will be sunshine and daisies everyday. This life will always be hard in one way or another.
There are no magic words to sugar coat this topic. A lot of people out there are ready to throw out the anti-Christian slogans and reasoning because fear and doubt are two words that grip their lives. God has never let me down even though I turned my back on Him more times than I can think of. Then there is the "What about this guy" game that a lot of individuals love to play. It usually goes something like this, "Well I saw so and so doing this or that, and I thought he was supposed to be a Christian?! That's why I'll never buy into that stuff." Everyone makes mistakes, and there will always be those out there that make more than others. I guess you could throw my name in with that bunch sometimes. It's what you do with that realization of wrong doing afterward that separates you from the rest of the pack. Benny Hinn is a really good example of a Christian that started out with incredible intentions, but somewhere in the midst of his televangelism the straight and narrow road got blurry. That's the incredible thing about God's grace; no matter how confused you are, no matter what you have done, no matter how convoluted life gets sometimes, He is always there to accept us as we are. I was asked by a former pastor if I understood God's grace and had I accepted it? I was pretty lost in the sauce! I know now that God's grace to me is a gift of eternal life and salvation that I don't deserve. People will always let you down 100% of the time, with percentages like that it's a good thing God cares for us just the same and more.
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
There are no magic words to sugar coat this topic. A lot of people out there are ready to throw out the anti-Christian slogans and reasoning because fear and doubt are two words that grip their lives. God has never let me down even though I turned my back on Him more times than I can think of. Then there is the "What about this guy" game that a lot of individuals love to play. It usually goes something like this, "Well I saw so and so doing this or that, and I thought he was supposed to be a Christian?! That's why I'll never buy into that stuff." Everyone makes mistakes, and there will always be those out there that make more than others. I guess you could throw my name in with that bunch sometimes. It's what you do with that realization of wrong doing afterward that separates you from the rest of the pack. Benny Hinn is a really good example of a Christian that started out with incredible intentions, but somewhere in the midst of his televangelism the straight and narrow road got blurry. That's the incredible thing about God's grace; no matter how confused you are, no matter what you have done, no matter how convoluted life gets sometimes, He is always there to accept us as we are. I was asked by a former pastor if I understood God's grace and had I accepted it? I was pretty lost in the sauce! I know now that God's grace to me is a gift of eternal life and salvation that I don't deserve. People will always let you down 100% of the time, with percentages like that it's a good thing God cares for us just the same and more.
Righteousness Through Faith
Romans 321 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Emotions Running Wild
Some years ago I was attending a training course in Chesapeake, Virginia. The humidity was bad enough to make you sweat just walking from the shower to your room. Despite the uncomfortable climate, things were pretty good back then. I am half Italian and half Scotch-Irish by decent, so take a moment to imagine the emotions and attitude wrapped up into that package. As a wee Cifu I gave my parents a run for their money! Things didn't change even after I got out of high school, it was just some different that now had the opportunity to fully embrace my attitude and emotions. A few months after arriving in Virginia I called my Mom one day and had a game changing conversation. She told me that she was at the tail end of receiving treatment for breast cancer. My mind was free falling when I heard the words. My emotions were running wild as I began my self serving reply, "Why did you keep this from me? When did all of this happen?" Compassion for the incredible woman who raised and loved me was no where to be found. I proceeded to neglect her feelings so I could find out information which was irrelevant at that very moment. It's a crazy trip that our emotions can take us on from time to time. Often we allow feelings to dictate our actions. What we think are intelligent choices are often immature actions conjured up from our own self fulfilling notions.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Involving God in daily decisions and actions is the control mechanism for our emotions.
Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Involving God in daily decisions and actions is the control mechanism for our emotions.
Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Humility Forgotten
There are some lessons in life that we as human beings find difficult to learn, and even more challenging to hold onto. If there were a list of them floating around humility would be somewhere near the top. Doesn't it appear as if society has been afflicted with a sense of self entitlement and self righteousness? The population as a whole has engaged in this attitude that they should get everything they want just because they want it; they should be able to say whatever they want just because they can. As Americans we are the worst when it comes to such a self fulfilling mentality. Why can't we just work hard and be happy with what we get? Whether we get a little, or a lot, we should accept everything with a grateful and respectful attitude. Teenagers and those coming out of High School are the worst individuals who have a lack of humility. They were often not disciplined by their parents because the parents would rather keep the peace by acting as a "best friend." As a result the younger generations are receiving everything by just asking or acting out if they don't get their way, which also provides the same result. Whatever happened to corporal punishment and basic parenting skills?
Humility was a lesson I had to learn the hard way, and yet I am eternally grateful for God using the Marine Corps to show me that lesson. Does the military always have the same affect on everybody, NO! I have observed my fair share of men and women coming out of the military and feeling as if the world owed them everything just because they served. That road is for another discussion topic though. My experience started in Marine Corps boot camp at MCRD San Diego. Through all the weeks of relentless yelling, physical punishment, and training, one event really showed me the meaning of humility. Just after our initial drill competition against the other platoons in our company, we found out the platoon as a whole had scored second place. Getting this score out of six other platoons was pretty respectable, especially if you saw how horrible we were when we first marched together. Our drill instructors (DI's) came into our squad bay late in the morning after we had learned of our ranking and unleashed hell, well, what we thought hell would have been like. If you weren't up in the front getting thrashed (a workout that only ends when the DI's are tired), you were probably in the back getting your footlocker dumped and seeing how many recruits can fit into a bathroom stall at one time. At one point the DI's let our rival platoon run in our squad bay while we were at attention. They flung our belongings all over, locked all of our combination locks together, and emptied out our supply closet by spilling every cleaning solution known to man all over us. Our DI's were even sending us to other squad bays so we could be thrashed by their DI's! The chaos and confusion ended at 9pm or so that night. What did I learn from this moment in time? We had done very well that day at drill (we found out later), but it wasn't about how well we did. They wanted us to learn two things from that day's events:
1. Be humble, regardless of what you experience in life. Just because you worked hard does not mean there is some pay out at the end.
2. Respect those that preside over you.
So.........nice story, but what does all of it mean? If you don't respect those that preside over you, you cannot truly respect anyone or anything around you. This is the same with God. 1 Peter talks about humility saying:
1 Peter 5
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Remember, the most important lessons in life are sometimes the hardest to swallow when they arrive on your front door step. Work hard, expect nothing in return, and be grateful in life no matter what path God takes you down! One last set of verses before I end this.
Luke 18
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Humility was a lesson I had to learn the hard way, and yet I am eternally grateful for God using the Marine Corps to show me that lesson. Does the military always have the same affect on everybody, NO! I have observed my fair share of men and women coming out of the military and feeling as if the world owed them everything just because they served. That road is for another discussion topic though. My experience started in Marine Corps boot camp at MCRD San Diego. Through all the weeks of relentless yelling, physical punishment, and training, one event really showed me the meaning of humility. Just after our initial drill competition against the other platoons in our company, we found out the platoon as a whole had scored second place. Getting this score out of six other platoons was pretty respectable, especially if you saw how horrible we were when we first marched together. Our drill instructors (DI's) came into our squad bay late in the morning after we had learned of our ranking and unleashed hell, well, what we thought hell would have been like. If you weren't up in the front getting thrashed (a workout that only ends when the DI's are tired), you were probably in the back getting your footlocker dumped and seeing how many recruits can fit into a bathroom stall at one time. At one point the DI's let our rival platoon run in our squad bay while we were at attention. They flung our belongings all over, locked all of our combination locks together, and emptied out our supply closet by spilling every cleaning solution known to man all over us. Our DI's were even sending us to other squad bays so we could be thrashed by their DI's! The chaos and confusion ended at 9pm or so that night. What did I learn from this moment in time? We had done very well that day at drill (we found out later), but it wasn't about how well we did. They wanted us to learn two things from that day's events:
1. Be humble, regardless of what you experience in life. Just because you worked hard does not mean there is some pay out at the end.
2. Respect those that preside over you.
So.........nice story, but what does all of it mean? If you don't respect those that preside over you, you cannot truly respect anyone or anything around you. This is the same with God. 1 Peter talks about humility saying:
1 Peter 5
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Remember, the most important lessons in life are sometimes the hardest to swallow when they arrive on your front door step. Work hard, expect nothing in return, and be grateful in life no matter what path God takes you down! One last set of verses before I end this.
Luke 18
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Making a Difference
Everyone always talks about making a difference in their life. What does this mean to you? Sometimes thoughts of dieting, buying a pet, or volunteering might seem to embrace this ideology. In order to be better to ourselves and others this is how most people are taught to think of initial self improvement? Well, at face value it looks like a sound concept. Let's look at another technique that could also work. Try this when you get the chance: think of the one person in your life that dislikes you the most, or whom you dislike the most. Then sit down and take the time to pray for that person. Is it hard, sure it is! Sometimes the most difficult things are the most rewarding.
Matthew 6
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Picking the Ripe One's
Today I went with the family to pick blueberries from a farm up north. As we arrived I could only think of two things.....1. God please don't let me do something like fall in the bushes or dump the blueberries out. 2. My wife is totally going to spank me at picking the most blueberries. At any rate, I moved through the field today enjoying a beautiful afternoon. After I left I thought of how I picked each berry at will only after I felt it was ready. God picks us just as the blueberries are picked, each one with a purpose. As sometimes the berries I picked weren't quite ready or ripe, so are we at times when God sends us a message.
James 1
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Take My Hand
Psalms 37: verses 23-24
23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
What a roller coaster of a world we live in today! It is easy to see the bad stack up against the good no matter who you are or where you live. For many out there it is so hard to fathom that God has a plan for each of us. The hard truth is that many choose to live life on their own accord. I like living on the edge sometimes, but this is comparable to swinging on a trapeze without a safety net, or even riding a motorcycle without a helmet. It's not whether you are going to fall, it is only a matter of when!
I know a few people that are so against the idea of Christ dying on the cross for our sins. They hate the idea of religion and following a God they cannot see. Is it hard to bite on this concept, yeah, sure it is! I remember when I was young and coming up through church. I had a hard time really committing to anything that had a "God" label on it. I was in it for the social time and comfort of acceptance in a group. It took a while for me to really realize that life would end as suddenly as it started. As I grew older I saw friends and relatives dying around me more and more. God used each one of them to send me a message that the end could be at anytime. When I looked at everything I finally made the choice to commit to God and reach out for His hand that had been there the entire time. God does not ask any crazy stuff of us like baptizing in the name of the dead or drinking the kool-aid on demand. We live in a society with a fix for just about everything, and an excuse for every overly sensitive person out there. If God doesn't exist then why do Atheists fight so hard to disprove His existence? Here is the point; reach out for God and get ready for God and get ready for a huge change in your life. Bad things will always happen in this life, but I couldn't imagine walking into them without God right there next to me.
Matthew 22: verses 37-40
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
What a roller coaster of a world we live in today! It is easy to see the bad stack up against the good no matter who you are or where you live. For many out there it is so hard to fathom that God has a plan for each of us. The hard truth is that many choose to live life on their own accord. I like living on the edge sometimes, but this is comparable to swinging on a trapeze without a safety net, or even riding a motorcycle without a helmet. It's not whether you are going to fall, it is only a matter of when!
I know a few people that are so against the idea of Christ dying on the cross for our sins. They hate the idea of religion and following a God they cannot see. Is it hard to bite on this concept, yeah, sure it is! I remember when I was young and coming up through church. I had a hard time really committing to anything that had a "God" label on it. I was in it for the social time and comfort of acceptance in a group. It took a while for me to really realize that life would end as suddenly as it started. As I grew older I saw friends and relatives dying around me more and more. God used each one of them to send me a message that the end could be at anytime. When I looked at everything I finally made the choice to commit to God and reach out for His hand that had been there the entire time. God does not ask any crazy stuff of us like baptizing in the name of the dead or drinking the kool-aid on demand. We live in a society with a fix for just about everything, and an excuse for every overly sensitive person out there. If God doesn't exist then why do Atheists fight so hard to disprove His existence? Here is the point; reach out for God and get ready for God and get ready for a huge change in your life. Bad things will always happen in this life, but I couldn't imagine walking into them without God right there next to me.
Matthew 22: verses 37-40
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Something Small
Mark 11
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[f] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” [26] [g]
Ever get caught in some heavy traffic wondering if that guy that cut you off was ever born with a brain? Maybe you have some more descriptive expletives for that guy that almost merged into you without looking? Next time this happens, take a second and really think if it's worth the stress. How many minor issues do we come across in this life that we turn into mountains?!
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[f] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” [26] [g]
Ever get caught in some heavy traffic wondering if that guy that cut you off was ever born with a brain? Maybe you have some more descriptive expletives for that guy that almost merged into you without looking? Next time this happens, take a second and really think if it's worth the stress. How many minor issues do we come across in this life that we turn into mountains?!
Pilgrim
I started reading the book, "Pilgrim's Progress," this last week. For those of you unfamiliar with this piece of literature, a man by the name of "Christian" is on a journey to get rid of a heavy burden that he physically carries with him. His life, as told through an epic story line, portrays the events that a Christian in our world faces daily. I find myself intrigued with this book even though I am only 2 chapters.
I really won't bore you with a dissertation of my readings thus far, however, I mention this book because of something that happens to "Christian" multiple times during his journey. Christian gets side tracked on multiple occasions by both people and things. I could relate to this character because it happens to all of us. We set out meaning to live a great and wholesome life, but we get side tracked many times. The straight and narrow path of God's grace is not easy to follow by any means. If it were then the Earth really wouldn't need to exist, and you would see me flying around as one of those cute cherubs with bright white wings and cute red cheeks. To some that would be a scary thought........ My point is this, no matter how many times we stray from the path of righteousness, God always gives us that mulligan, second chance, or whatever you want to call it. Don't think you are too far gone from His grace. He always provides the opportunity, the question is whether we can get past ourselves to accept it.
12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
I really won't bore you with a dissertation of my readings thus far, however, I mention this book because of something that happens to "Christian" multiple times during his journey. Christian gets side tracked on multiple occasions by both people and things. I could relate to this character because it happens to all of us. We set out meaning to live a great and wholesome life, but we get side tracked many times. The straight and narrow path of God's grace is not easy to follow by any means. If it were then the Earth really wouldn't need to exist, and you would see me flying around as one of those cute cherubs with bright white wings and cute red cheeks. To some that would be a scary thought........ My point is this, no matter how many times we stray from the path of righteousness, God always gives us that mulligan, second chance, or whatever you want to call it. Don't think you are too far gone from His grace. He always provides the opportunity, the question is whether we can get past ourselves to accept it.
The Parable of the Wandering Sheep
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11] [a]12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The Word of The Day
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most Highwill rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Today
How shall we live as servants for the Lord Jesus Christ? I read through the first part of a commentary on the book of James last night, and this was the question that stuck with me. Coming up in the church I always thought that being a Christian was the process of working on yourself. If I kept myself in line as far as my walk with God, then I was doing pretty good. Living life was so different back then with such a self serving attitude. I lived comfortably, and that was good enough.
My whole goal in talking with people about my relationship with God is not to come off as a bible thumper. I guess what I really want anyone within an ear shot to know is that I feel free from what I was when I claimed to be a Christian, yet my life didn't exactly reflect it. I am not always the happiest person, nor is everyday flowers and rainbows. Tomorrow I will wake up without worry in my heart knowing that God will always be the Father that never turns His back even though I turn mine from Him.
My whole goal in talking with people about my relationship with God is not to come off as a bible thumper. I guess what I really want anyone within an ear shot to know is that I feel free from what I was when I claimed to be a Christian, yet my life didn't exactly reflect it. I am not always the happiest person, nor is everyday flowers and rainbows. Tomorrow I will wake up without worry in my heart knowing that God will always be the Father that never turns His back even though I turn mine from Him.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Acknowledgement
While growing up God blessed me with two great parents. I remember being quite the difficult child, and sometimes I wonder how I didn't end up at the local landfill, or at a pawn shop with a price tag. I was such a little heathen in elementary school. At first my teachers would draw a circle in the sand that I had to stay inside of for the entire recess period. However, it wasn't too long before my Mom had to come to school and take me home for lunch. I was a big question mark and a handful. I can appreciate the war I put my parents through back then! I especially consider myself lucky because a lot of my friends back then had split homes, neglectful parents, and /or parents who abused them. The time I spent inside the teacher's sand circle must have seemed like small stuff to them.
It took me a long time to truly appreciate the time and effort my parents put into my life. I am not saying that neither one of them ever made a mistake or did not follow the so called "Proper Parenting Manual." Everyone makes mistakes, however, my parents brought me up in an environment and placed me in situations where I could learn from them. I left for the military for many reasons, but I also just wanted to get away from home and start life with no questions. The popular parable, "The prodigal son," explains how we feel sometimes in life. The thing to remember is that good parents, bad parents, or something in between, we all have a Father up above willing to welcome us with open arms regardless of what we've been through or what we have done. Read below and enjoy............
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
It took me a long time to truly appreciate the time and effort my parents put into my life. I am not saying that neither one of them ever made a mistake or did not follow the so called "Proper Parenting Manual." Everyone makes mistakes, however, my parents brought me up in an environment and placed me in situations where I could learn from them. I left for the military for many reasons, but I also just wanted to get away from home and start life with no questions. The popular parable, "The prodigal son," explains how we feel sometimes in life. The thing to remember is that good parents, bad parents, or something in between, we all have a Father up above willing to welcome us with open arms regardless of what we've been through or what we have done. Read below and enjoy............
Luke 15:11-32
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Friday, July 22, 2011
Attention.......
THE BACKGROUND
I can remember going to church when I was a little Cifu. In Riverside, California my family and I attended the Assembly of God church. It was a small church that boasted a decent size congregation and a pastor who seemed larger than life itself whenever I would sit through the services. Even though I would pull the typical "kid stuff", such as crawling on the floor and finding any reason I could to talk during the sermon, I was always drawn to his presence. If you asked me today about any of the words that came out of the pastor's mouth, I could not tell you one. I would put money on it though that he talked about God somewhere in the mix. It's a wonder I am not rich and famous with those kind of deductive skills! Anyway, when was the last time you were simply mesmerized by someone solely based upon their presence? Maybe it was their looks, their position, or maybe even how they moved around the crowd in a room?
TODAY......
I never let God have my full attention for a quite a while. I always found someone else to fill that role. Maybe it was whatever girlfriend I had at the time, or even my Mom getting ready to have a "Come to Jesus" meeting with me. Unfortunately, I always paid attention to someone else first. There are endless amounts of individuals out there who would never believe there is a God. Why should they, what with all the bad stuff going on in the world. It is easier in the short term to tough it out and commit their attention to the next big thing. How wonderful would it be to finally find that permanent patch, the fix to end all of your break downs in life? It's even harder for the man or woman that has had a good life to believe God would ever need to find a place within them. Sure they might have had a few set backs, but everything worked out for the best, right?!
I read that poem, "Footprints," from time to time. Even though I never quite gave God the focus He so much deserved in my life, He was always there carrying me. God is to me what that Pastor was back in the day, a person who gets my attention without needing word. I have never found myself as fortunate as most televangelists out there that have heard God speak to them. I find myself following a graceful figure whom I have never seen or heard so much as one word from. In most cultures that would get you a trip to the institution for "special people." I follow Him because at the end of the day, whether things went outstanding or poorly, He will be there when I drop to my knees and lift up my praise and worries. God you have my attention! This little boy is no longer stuck crawling on the floor of life thanks to you.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
I can remember going to church when I was a little Cifu. In Riverside, California my family and I attended the Assembly of God church. It was a small church that boasted a decent size congregation and a pastor who seemed larger than life itself whenever I would sit through the services. Even though I would pull the typical "kid stuff", such as crawling on the floor and finding any reason I could to talk during the sermon, I was always drawn to his presence. If you asked me today about any of the words that came out of the pastor's mouth, I could not tell you one. I would put money on it though that he talked about God somewhere in the mix. It's a wonder I am not rich and famous with those kind of deductive skills! Anyway, when was the last time you were simply mesmerized by someone solely based upon their presence? Maybe it was their looks, their position, or maybe even how they moved around the crowd in a room?
TODAY......
I never let God have my full attention for a quite a while. I always found someone else to fill that role. Maybe it was whatever girlfriend I had at the time, or even my Mom getting ready to have a "Come to Jesus" meeting with me. Unfortunately, I always paid attention to someone else first. There are endless amounts of individuals out there who would never believe there is a God. Why should they, what with all the bad stuff going on in the world. It is easier in the short term to tough it out and commit their attention to the next big thing. How wonderful would it be to finally find that permanent patch, the fix to end all of your break downs in life? It's even harder for the man or woman that has had a good life to believe God would ever need to find a place within them. Sure they might have had a few set backs, but everything worked out for the best, right?!
I read that poem, "Footprints," from time to time. Even though I never quite gave God the focus He so much deserved in my life, He was always there carrying me. God is to me what that Pastor was back in the day, a person who gets my attention without needing word. I have never found myself as fortunate as most televangelists out there that have heard God speak to them. I find myself following a graceful figure whom I have never seen or heard so much as one word from. In most cultures that would get you a trip to the institution for "special people." I follow Him because at the end of the day, whether things went outstanding or poorly, He will be there when I drop to my knees and lift up my praise and worries. God you have my attention! This little boy is no longer stuck crawling on the floor of life thanks to you.
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Nature
Nature's beauty is only surpassed by God's glory. There are places in this world that inspire thoughts of awe and wonder. I remember the first time I saw Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah) on a high school missions trip. I slowly walked toward the ridge overlooking the canyon which has become so famous for it's free standing spires and rock formations. I stared across the expanse and watched the sun rise over the red, yellow and white washed sand that covered the terrain. Isn't it incredible to see something that is incomparable with everyday sights. Maybe it's that tall skyscraper, green valley, or beach just outside your door that embraces your senses. Nature is what God intended it to be; it is what he intended you and I to be as well, great.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
God brings us this same glory day in and day out, yet not everyone sees the beauty and glory of this world as His creation. Some scientists and skeptics would say that this world "just happened", or maybe it was created by some cosmic explosion and formation over millions of years. I would say to each his own, however, there is no other explanation than our Earth and everything in it was created by God.
John 1: verse 3
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
I used to find it so hard to embrace the idea that God created everything that I saw, everyone I met, and everything around me. There was no way one guy did all this?! Well therein lies the answer, God is not just a guy. There are things in my life that have happened and things that I have seen that could not have possibly happened by chance, or by any other means. Trusting that God has your back day in and day out is a part of this faith/trust factor that goes hand in hand with the landscapes that surround us day in and day out. If God is great enough to create all of what you see, feel, hear, touch and smell, then why question His ability to carry you in your darkest hour? My wife can attest to the fact that I used to be a huge worrisome mess when it came to life. Trusting god was the hardest thing I ever did, but I have no regrets. God isn't a crumbling piece of rock that breaks a part in bad weather, and he sure isn't the drug or alcohol using abusive parent that just really wasn't there in life. God is what you let Him be in your own life. If you place Him at the forefront of your priorities and issues then you have the brightest light in this entire world to guide you. Next time as you gaze upon the splendor of nature think of the one who created it for you to enjoy.
Proverbs 3: verses 5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Genesis 1
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
God brings us this same glory day in and day out, yet not everyone sees the beauty and glory of this world as His creation. Some scientists and skeptics would say that this world "just happened", or maybe it was created by some cosmic explosion and formation over millions of years. I would say to each his own, however, there is no other explanation than our Earth and everything in it was created by God.
John 1: verse 3
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
I used to find it so hard to embrace the idea that God created everything that I saw, everyone I met, and everything around me. There was no way one guy did all this?! Well therein lies the answer, God is not just a guy. There are things in my life that have happened and things that I have seen that could not have possibly happened by chance, or by any other means. Trusting that God has your back day in and day out is a part of this faith/trust factor that goes hand in hand with the landscapes that surround us day in and day out. If God is great enough to create all of what you see, feel, hear, touch and smell, then why question His ability to carry you in your darkest hour? My wife can attest to the fact that I used to be a huge worrisome mess when it came to life. Trusting god was the hardest thing I ever did, but I have no regrets. God isn't a crumbling piece of rock that breaks a part in bad weather, and he sure isn't the drug or alcohol using abusive parent that just really wasn't there in life. God is what you let Him be in your own life. If you place Him at the forefront of your priorities and issues then you have the brightest light in this entire world to guide you. Next time as you gaze upon the splendor of nature think of the one who created it for you to enjoy.
Proverbs 3: verses 5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Stuff
We had a pretty intense prayer session at the Youth Ministry meeting I attended tonight. Sometimes prayer amazes me because everyone has there own reason for doing it, and every prayer is somehow distinct in its own regard. Although I didn't add to the circle tonight, there were many that did. Sometimes when people are praying they only lift up the bad stuff in life. You know what I am talking about: disease, family problems, financial issues, divorce, car problems, a crappy job situation, no job at all........the list goes on and on!
Tonight I received a much needed reminder that throwing a little thank you back upstairs is owed more often than not. I remember the Cifu teenage era when I would send up a prayer to stay with a particular girlfriend, or some other adolescent desire that I had at the time. Wow, I was lost in the sauce! Everyone knows the basic concept of a prayer even if you are not Christian. Next time you are sitting there thinking how happy you are in your life, or maybe a hardship revealed itself as a lesson in perseverance and challenge; let God know what's going on with a short prayer. Remember what your Mom said when you were growing up too, a little thank you goes a long way.
Luke 18:1-10
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Tonight I received a much needed reminder that throwing a little thank you back upstairs is owed more often than not. I remember the Cifu teenage era when I would send up a prayer to stay with a particular girlfriend, or some other adolescent desire that I had at the time. Wow, I was lost in the sauce! Everyone knows the basic concept of a prayer even if you are not Christian. Next time you are sitting there thinking how happy you are in your life, or maybe a hardship revealed itself as a lesson in perseverance and challenge; let God know what's going on with a short prayer. Remember what your Mom said when you were growing up too, a little thank you goes a long way.
Luke 18:1-10
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Monday, July 18, 2011
Words......
What do wars, speeches, fights, proposals, and prayers all have in common? All of them were conceptualized and created in a large part by someone, somewhere, letting words escape their mouth. Early in my marriage to my beautiful wife I thought it would be a great idea to embrace her with my idea of what was involved with babysitting or watching children. I told her that watching children was easy because you just sit there and let them play. Let's just say I still have not lived that one down!
It's amazing what words from our tongues have the ability to do. Words have started wars, and words have also saved thousands. Even now I get caught up letting my tongue loose and taking my chances at work and at home. Let's just say that I have struck out more than a few times. I have talked my way to the couch at night, and I have also talked my way into awards and promotions. We are our own worst enemies. God gives us that free will to say what we will. Though most of us choose poorly more times than not. This is why it is so important to lean on God for our inspiration and not the ways of the world. Imagine all the times you have ever spoken out of anger or let emotions dictate the words that roll off your tongue. How many people have we hurt to fulfill our own selfish ambitions and feelings? The book of James gives us a good idea how our words can determine who we are.
James 3: versus 3-6
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
It's amazing what words from our tongues have the ability to do. Words have started wars, and words have also saved thousands. Even now I get caught up letting my tongue loose and taking my chances at work and at home. Let's just say that I have struck out more than a few times. I have talked my way to the couch at night, and I have also talked my way into awards and promotions. We are our own worst enemies. God gives us that free will to say what we will. Though most of us choose poorly more times than not. This is why it is so important to lean on God for our inspiration and not the ways of the world. Imagine all the times you have ever spoken out of anger or let emotions dictate the words that roll off your tongue. How many people have we hurt to fulfill our own selfish ambitions and feelings? The book of James gives us a good idea how our words can determine who we are.
James 3: versus 3-6
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
James 4
Submit Yourselves to God
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.Friday, July 15, 2011
Slow
James 1:19-21
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
I read this verse on facebook this morning. It was pretty incredible to hear those words because there are times I let stress and frustration take over my thoughts and responses to certain situations. Notice the only thing that is "quick" in these verses is the listening part. All I need is to open an ear and take in every word. I totally fit the stigma of the guy that wants to be the "problem solver" when all that is really needed is to just be there.
I can remember a time in high school when I had all the answers and I ran at the mouth way too much. One night after a church Christmas performance I was being my typical self and I thought I would open my mouth and fire back at another guy after he hurt my pride. Well, I just happen to mention his Mom in a vulgar manner and I found myself with a face full of fist. Did I deserve it, YES! I am thankful for experiences like this, no matter how painful. As humans we are designed to display outward displays of emotion, but it's not a golden ticket to take the filter from our mouths or show some sort of patience and due diligence. "Slow" is the word of the day.......embrace it.
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
I read this verse on facebook this morning. It was pretty incredible to hear those words because there are times I let stress and frustration take over my thoughts and responses to certain situations. Notice the only thing that is "quick" in these verses is the listening part. All I need is to open an ear and take in every word. I totally fit the stigma of the guy that wants to be the "problem solver" when all that is really needed is to just be there.
I can remember a time in high school when I had all the answers and I ran at the mouth way too much. One night after a church Christmas performance I was being my typical self and I thought I would open my mouth and fire back at another guy after he hurt my pride. Well, I just happen to mention his Mom in a vulgar manner and I found myself with a face full of fist. Did I deserve it, YES! I am thankful for experiences like this, no matter how painful. As humans we are designed to display outward displays of emotion, but it's not a golden ticket to take the filter from our mouths or show some sort of patience and due diligence. "Slow" is the word of the day.......embrace it.
Success
I can dream of many things in this world that I would love to be successful at, however, my selfish ambitions would only serve my desires first. Lately I find myself wandering to places in my mind where material things mark my wins and losses in life. Maybe if I could just score the next big toy, or possession then I could be happy?
It's not unfortunate that life truly doesn't work that way. My success is based upon my relationship with God. Where will I go when "that" day comes, heaven, or downstairs. I want so much to follow God, yet my decisions are not speaking toward that choice. I see all of these televangelists speaking toward success and positive attitudes. They preach how we have to be happy in our lives in order to truly enjoy what God wants for us all. I will never know everything in life, and frankly I do not want to. If at the end of the day I can truly say that I am a child of God then my success has been earned by Him, not me.
The Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
It's not unfortunate that life truly doesn't work that way. My success is based upon my relationship with God. Where will I go when "that" day comes, heaven, or downstairs. I want so much to follow God, yet my decisions are not speaking toward that choice. I see all of these televangelists speaking toward success and positive attitudes. They preach how we have to be happy in our lives in order to truly enjoy what God wants for us all. I will never know everything in life, and frankly I do not want to. If at the end of the day I can truly say that I am a child of God then my success has been earned by Him, not me.
The Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Commitment
Most often it seems that commitment is pretty easy to come by these days. Let's break that down though; initial commitment is pretty easy to come by, sustained commitment is not. When the word commitment is brought up in many circles it immediately brings to mind relationships, and how the word correlates to them. I am talking about commitment on a much grander scale though. Commitment is a bond created by one person which is intended toward a cause, objective, and/or living thing.
Sustained commitment toward God, for instance, is the toughest pursuit this life has to offer. With so many distractions our vision becomes blurred, our heads turn from that which should truly be our focus. I allow my focus to skew many times. You name it and I have faltered in some type of way throughout this life. My relationship with God is always a work in progress. The same can also be said for commitments/relationships with my wife, friends, family and so on. One thing is very true though, lately I have pulled away to live life on my own terms. Getting back to God is my current mission, the sustained commitment will be the challenge.
There's no way you can get into heaven on someone else's ticket. You have to make your own arrangements with God - on His terms. Romans 14:12, our word for today from the Word of God says, "Each of us will give an account of himself to God." You won't be standing before God with your Christian husband or your Christian wife--your Christian parents --your son or daughter who's in Christian work--your Christian friends--the folks from church. Judgment Day will be you and God. And you won't be allowed in on someone else's ticket. -Ron Hutchcraft
Sustained commitment toward God, for instance, is the toughest pursuit this life has to offer. With so many distractions our vision becomes blurred, our heads turn from that which should truly be our focus. I allow my focus to skew many times. You name it and I have faltered in some type of way throughout this life. My relationship with God is always a work in progress. The same can also be said for commitments/relationships with my wife, friends, family and so on. One thing is very true though, lately I have pulled away to live life on my own terms. Getting back to God is my current mission, the sustained commitment will be the challenge.
There's no way you can get into heaven on someone else's ticket. You have to make your own arrangements with God - on His terms. Romans 14:12, our word for today from the Word of God says, "Each of us will give an account of himself to God." You won't be standing before God with your Christian husband or your Christian wife--your Christian parents --your son or daughter who's in Christian work--your Christian friends--the folks from church. Judgment Day will be you and God. And you won't be allowed in on someone else's ticket. -Ron Hutchcraft
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Providence
There are some things about God that are hard to understand. Although God is all-powerful some people wonder why millions starve, get sick, are raped and/or abused. Some think God created everything and made it so well that everything is self sustaining, and afterward He simply sat back and watched life play out ever since. Some even say that God set up the elements necessary for evolution and let it go from there, but that He has had no direct influence or activity in life or the universe since. Others are inclined to think God is involved, but not as a provider, but rather as a disciplinarian. Those who die of an untimely death or horrible disease somehow deserve it?!
Clearly God is involved in our lives and even the world. Most of what He does for us goes unnoticed. We serve a God who cares, provides, and protects us.
1 Peter 1: verses 24-25
24 For, “All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
We cannot understand how God's providence works or what God is doing or why He is doing it. God did not promise to remove all of our problems. However, He has promised to provide everything we need to be faithful and receive eternal life. We must be determined to serve Him faithfully at all costs. Wow, that is the hard part for me as I am sure it is for many others.
Clearly God is involved in our lives and even the world. Most of what He does for us goes unnoticed. We serve a God who cares, provides, and protects us.
1 Peter 1: verses 24-25
24 For, “All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
We cannot understand how God's providence works or what God is doing or why He is doing it. God did not promise to remove all of our problems. However, He has promised to provide everything we need to be faithful and receive eternal life. We must be determined to serve Him faithfully at all costs. Wow, that is the hard part for me as I am sure it is for many others.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thought Before Choice.....
On April 26, 1986 shortly after midnight, there occurred near the Ukrainian town of Chernobyl a horrific event. A gradual meltdown of reactor 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant started as a result of unauthorized testing and a faulty reactor design. It was by far the worst nuclear accident ever, which immediately sent a radioactive cloud across two continents. Many suffered large scale involuntary irradiation due to extensive secrecy, as well as many types of cancer. To this day the Ukrainian government maintains an 18 mile exclusion zone around the former bustling city, also known by people there as the "Alienation Zone". In the neighboring town of Pripyat hundreds of on lookers watched in amazement on the day of the incident as graphite in the reactor fire burned as a bright rainbow hundreds of feet in the air. Little did they know that this beautiful vision would also kill nearly all of them from acute radiation poisoning.
Why start out this post with such a horrible event in human history? Simply put, this whole nightmare that I just recounted was initiated and played out through poor choices. Reactor staff decided to perform a test involving the shut down of the reactor, one which was neither advised nor sanctioned through policy. Their choice affected hundreds of thousands that they never even saw or met. What choices do we make everyday without the thought of the repercussions or who we are affecting? The intention is not to equate a nuclear disaster with that of many simple decisions made in our lives which turn out less than incredible. Pay attention to the underlying principle of the event. The staff at Chernobyl did what they wanted to with little or no regard for how it would affect those around them, or the possible dangers. The growing trend in society is to act first and throw out the excuses and cover ups later. Emotion seems to rule the thinking of many in society as they get "caught up in the moment." So what is the lesson here? Let's try the oldie but goodie, "Think before you act." Every choice we make affects so many more people around us than just me, myself, and I. I have sat in a room over the last couple of months on Sunday telling a group of teenagers three of the most important things they could do in their lives to pursue a relationship with God and maintain a feeling of freedom in their lives.
1. Be selfless in your actions.
2. Never do anything you would not be willing to post on the front page of the newspaper.
2. Learn to forgive and be forgiven.
Although their are so many other "life lessons" I truly feel that these reflect a base standard of what any human being should embrace, whether Christian or non-Christian.
Why start out this post with such a horrible event in human history? Simply put, this whole nightmare that I just recounted was initiated and played out through poor choices. Reactor staff decided to perform a test involving the shut down of the reactor, one which was neither advised nor sanctioned through policy. Their choice affected hundreds of thousands that they never even saw or met. What choices do we make everyday without the thought of the repercussions or who we are affecting? The intention is not to equate a nuclear disaster with that of many simple decisions made in our lives which turn out less than incredible. Pay attention to the underlying principle of the event. The staff at Chernobyl did what they wanted to with little or no regard for how it would affect those around them, or the possible dangers. The growing trend in society is to act first and throw out the excuses and cover ups later. Emotion seems to rule the thinking of many in society as they get "caught up in the moment." So what is the lesson here? Let's try the oldie but goodie, "Think before you act." Every choice we make affects so many more people around us than just me, myself, and I. I have sat in a room over the last couple of months on Sunday telling a group of teenagers three of the most important things they could do in their lives to pursue a relationship with God and maintain a feeling of freedom in their lives.
1. Be selfless in your actions.
2. Never do anything you would not be willing to post on the front page of the newspaper.
2. Learn to forgive and be forgiven.
Although their are so many other "life lessons" I truly feel that these reflect a base standard of what any human being should embrace, whether Christian or non-Christian.
Psalm 15: 1 LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? 2 The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; 3 whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; 4 who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; 5 who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Little Things that Count...
Sometimes it is the little things in life that are often overlooked. I am not talking about forgetting to do a chore at home, or leaving something out on the counter overnight. Let's talk about sin. Most often the little sins in life can lead to much bigger issues down the road. Yet these are regarded as acceptable short falls in our everyday lives. Although God tells us that all sin is the same, it is most often the common sins that keep us from a greater relationship with God. Let's review some of these sins I am talking about, and this is the short list: lying, stealing, greed, selfishness, disrespect toward others, seeking revenge, gossip, foul language, and so on. Quite often these "little" sins generally cause one of two outcomes. Lets talk about these in more depth.
The first result of accepting these little sins is the rocky path they lead us down. One small sin leads to the mental acceptance of committing something on a grander scale. I like to use this analogy even though some disagree with it's comparative characteristics. Drug users will often start off with an illicit drug that yields much milder affects than others. As they get more comfortable and welcome a more satisfying feeling they move into harder narcotics such as PCP, heroin, LSD, etc. I have been caught in the destructive chain of lying in the past. I always though how a small lie wouldn't hurt, and then another, and then another, until I told so many that it was hard to keep the truth straight anymore. My lies led me into accepting things into my life and making choices that were spiritually and morally wrong. I had convinced myself everything was okay as I progressed through the common sins I became more accepting of in my life. Although I never used drugs in my life, lying was just as bad. If you don't believe that then you need to take a long hard look in the mirror!
The second result of accepting common sin in your life is the rift that is created between you, and truly knowing a guilt free life with Christ. When I was sitting at home the other day my son had come into the living room to see me. A couple minutes later my daughter yells for saying my son had just taken a baby doll from her. Typically I would yell my son's name and ask, "What is going on out there?" Instead I looked over and saw the rare sigh of relief and freedom in his face when he knew that he had nothing to do with it. How incredible is that feeling when guilt loses it's grip on your life?
I taught this lesson to a class of Junior High students at church last Sunday. I felt like the reception was hit and miss, however, it hit home for me. We fail to take sin seriously day in and day out. Take that second look at your life today and think about your actions. Do you sit their and gossip about other people? Do you swear and cuss at work, maybe at home as well, and then think calling yourself a child of God works for you? So many people want to view themselves mentally and/or physically strong, and think it is found in being a parent, going to the gym, talking back to someone, or whatever else flips the bill. Everyone hits that instantaneous moment of making a choice when different paths lay in front of them. Hold yourself accountable for your actions, and hold others accountable for theirs!
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
The first result of accepting these little sins is the rocky path they lead us down. One small sin leads to the mental acceptance of committing something on a grander scale. I like to use this analogy even though some disagree with it's comparative characteristics. Drug users will often start off with an illicit drug that yields much milder affects than others. As they get more comfortable and welcome a more satisfying feeling they move into harder narcotics such as PCP, heroin, LSD, etc. I have been caught in the destructive chain of lying in the past. I always though how a small lie wouldn't hurt, and then another, and then another, until I told so many that it was hard to keep the truth straight anymore. My lies led me into accepting things into my life and making choices that were spiritually and morally wrong. I had convinced myself everything was okay as I progressed through the common sins I became more accepting of in my life. Although I never used drugs in my life, lying was just as bad. If you don't believe that then you need to take a long hard look in the mirror!
The second result of accepting common sin in your life is the rift that is created between you, and truly knowing a guilt free life with Christ. When I was sitting at home the other day my son had come into the living room to see me. A couple minutes later my daughter yells for saying my son had just taken a baby doll from her. Typically I would yell my son's name and ask, "What is going on out there?" Instead I looked over and saw the rare sigh of relief and freedom in his face when he knew that he had nothing to do with it. How incredible is that feeling when guilt loses it's grip on your life?
I taught this lesson to a class of Junior High students at church last Sunday. I felt like the reception was hit and miss, however, it hit home for me. We fail to take sin seriously day in and day out. Take that second look at your life today and think about your actions. Do you sit their and gossip about other people? Do you swear and cuss at work, maybe at home as well, and then think calling yourself a child of God works for you? So many people want to view themselves mentally and/or physically strong, and think it is found in being a parent, going to the gym, talking back to someone, or whatever else flips the bill. Everyone hits that instantaneous moment of making a choice when different paths lay in front of them. Hold yourself accountable for your actions, and hold others accountable for theirs!
The Armor of God: Ephesians 6
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
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