I've often thought it'd be cool to know another language. I'm amazed at people who are fluent in multiple languages. I've had classes in French, Latin, and Spanish...yet English is still the only one I can actually speak. I've heard that you really have to immerse yourself in a language to learn it. So, it's no wonder that people were "amazed and perplexed" on the day of Pentecost when they heard people speaking clearly in a non-native tongue. It's neat to think that the same Holy Spirit is living in me today. The possibilities in this life are endless. What I realized today is, God didn't ask his followers to "study-up." All He needed them to do was declare his wonders. When they did, it drew a crowd. God (H.S.) did all the interpreting too. Sounds like a pretty good arrangement to me.
God, help me to recognize your wonders today. Then give me the courage to declare them!
P.S.--- God showed me a rainbow today! I wondered at it and thought of all the promises God makes and how he keeps every single one. I was in the car. It was just me and Tyler. I even tried to capture it with my cell phone (to no avail & prob not the safest thing to do). So now I declare: Thank you God for your promises! You are always faithful!!!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Easter Idea
You’ve been invited to share in the Easter “Eggs”perience!
If you’ve ever been “Boo-ed” or sung carols to,
Here’s another way to share holiday cheer this year.
The story of Easter has long been told,
And it’s more than just bunnies and candy that’s sold.
It’s a story that everyone can join in.
It’s about God’s love and forgiveness of sin.
If you’ve had this experience before,
Here’s a chance to share it door to door.
If you haven’t had this experience just yet,
Today could be the day…no regrets!
Now pick 3 people with whom to share,
Spread the “Eggs”perience everywhere.
Share some treats and your story,
Every time you share, God gets the glory!
How To:
1. Fill in your story on the My Easter “Eggs”perience page.
(I had a page with blank lines, titled My Easter "Eggs"perience and
one just like it filled in with my story in each basket.)
2. Make 3 copies of these sheets and get some yummy treats to make 3 baskets to share.
3. Stick the egg page on your door, so that everyone knows you’ve done this before.
(I put clip art of a large Easter egg on a full sheet of paper in each basket)
Not sure if you have an “Eggs”perience to share? Here’s how you can:
* Recognize who God is. He loves you, He made you, He lives in Heaven, and He is holy (Holy = perfect, having no sin). John 3:16 “For God so loved the world…”
* Recognize that God has no part of sin. (Sin = anything we think/say/do that is wrong or contrary to God’s law) Isaiah 59:2 “…sins have separated you from God…”
* Know that sin is something that ALL people have. Rom 3:23 “for all have sinned…”
* Know that the cost of sin is great. “The wages of sin is death…”Rom 6:23 and separation from God. (Isaiah 59:2, James 1:13-15, Rev 21:7-8)
* Realize that God doesn’t want to be separated from you. He desires to have a relationship with you! God sent Jesus (His son) to die to pay the price for your sin, to take your punishment. Hebrews 9:22 “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Jesus never sinned, so he didn’t have to die for his own sin. He died to pay for yours. John 3:17 “For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
* Believe that Jesus is God’s son and that even though He died on the cross, He did not remain dead. Believe that He rose from the dead and in doing so, he took away the power of death and sin and offers us forgiveness and eternal life with Him in Heaven.
Romans 4:25 “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Justification= to pay for our sin/ make our sin “just-as-if it never happened”)
* PRAY! (That means just talk to God)---You can do it out loud or quietly, anywhere. Admit your sin to God, and tell Him you believe Jesus died for your sins, ask Him to come in and be a part of your life. John 1:12 “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Acts 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…”
* Tell someone! Now you have a story!! Be sure to share it! Grow in your faith by reading the Bible and finding other believers to support and encourage you!
Share your “Eggs”perience with someone this Easter!!
An Offering
Romans 6:13
"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body as instruments of righteousness."
How?
mouth: speak kindness, life
sing
slow to speak
eyes: look at God's wonders
read
"oh be careful littles eyes what you see"---don't look upon evil
nose: ...still thinking on that one
hands: touch, hold (people are made for companionship)
make something
ears: be quick to listen
feet: go visit someone
follow (when appropriate)
lead (when appropriate)
"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body as instruments of righteousness."
How?
mouth: speak kindness, life
sing
slow to speak
eyes: look at God's wonders
read
"oh be careful littles eyes what you see"---don't look upon evil
nose: ...still thinking on that one
hands: touch, hold (people are made for companionship)
make something
ears: be quick to listen
feet: go visit someone
follow (when appropriate)
lead (when appropriate)
February 21, 2011
"God saw all that He had made, and it was good."
What did I acknowledge God for today? What's very good, something to applaud. (MUCH!!) I took the kids to the zoo today and I saw with renewed awe, the creativity of God. WOW! What diversity, what beauty! To top it all off, the weather was perfect with a comforting breeze; yet powerful enough to make your heart race a bit, take your breath for a minute. I've stopped and taken time to look at my kids in silence. (When they don't know I'm watching)--Pure masterpieces! I've told them how they are "fearfully and wonderfully made." It's good to be reminded that God is creative, creator, and deserves our awe.
Lord, make me more aware of your beauty to behold on a daily basis. I attribute all credit and praise to you for these wonders! Make me "God-concious" at all times.
What did I acknowledge God for today? What's very good, something to applaud. (MUCH!!) I took the kids to the zoo today and I saw with renewed awe, the creativity of God. WOW! What diversity, what beauty! To top it all off, the weather was perfect with a comforting breeze; yet powerful enough to make your heart race a bit, take your breath for a minute. I've stopped and taken time to look at my kids in silence. (When they don't know I'm watching)--Pure masterpieces! I've told them how they are "fearfully and wonderfully made." It's good to be reminded that God is creative, creator, and deserves our awe.
Lord, make me more aware of your beauty to behold on a daily basis. I attribute all credit and praise to you for these wonders! Make me "God-concious" at all times.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Revelation
Matthew 26:57-68
The high priests question Jesus. They knew the written word of God, but somehow they missed the Son of God standing before them. I live in a time and place where the Bible is readily available to me, in many different translations. I see written evidence of Christ, his death and resurrection. Everything shows that Christ is who he says He is. So, how did they miss it? Was it just jealousy, desire for power, control? I always pictured the pharisees as mean, power hungry individuals (and maybe they were). However, verse 65 made me see a different side of them. When Jesus answered that He was the Christ, the Son of God, "The high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses?..." He tore his clothes! I've been upset before, but I've never torn my clothes over it. (Yes, this was a more common practice back then, but still...) This encounter with Jesus rocked his soul. Something about Jesus disturbed him. Could it be that he truly thought this man, Jesus, was defaming the name of God? Could it be that he had devoted his whole live to God, so much that he assumed he understood God's plan for humanity?-and the thought of an impostor was infuriating. Self-righteousness is hard to recognize. By definition, it seems right. Even on the cross Jesus said "Forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." People who devoted their lives to God, wouldn't intentionally order the murder of the Son of God. They just didn't see. To them, Jesus was an impossible candidate. After all, he had grown up among them. They knew of his family--very human (as far as they could tell). They knew his "home"--a far cry from Heaven. They were mistaken. In my heart I've judged the pharisees for years. I saw them as part of God's plan, but I saw them as cold-hearted religious leaders. Today I found some compassion towards them. I wonder how many times have I mistaken God? Am I so sure about what's right in my eyes, that I've missed God's revelation?--God revealing himself in a new way, an unexpected way. In this same passage Jesus says "In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Sometimes, I live as if the story is done. I know Christ has the victory, my soul has been saved, and His way is best. I try to live accordingly. However, I don't want to be so caught up in what I know about Christ and what I'm assured of, that I stop looking for him today. I should be watching and awaiting His return. I should be getting to know Him so well, that when He returns--I know him! Perhaps, I should even expect to be surprised. (His ways are not my ways). I don't want to mistake Him or deny Him.
Jesus, may I know you better every day. I don't want to just know about you, I want to know YOU! I want to know your character and your voice, so that I will not miss you when you show up in my day to day life--or when you return to establish your kingdom. Reveal yourself to me. Remove my perspective and perception, and replace them with your promises and plans.
The high priests question Jesus. They knew the written word of God, but somehow they missed the Son of God standing before them. I live in a time and place where the Bible is readily available to me, in many different translations. I see written evidence of Christ, his death and resurrection. Everything shows that Christ is who he says He is. So, how did they miss it? Was it just jealousy, desire for power, control? I always pictured the pharisees as mean, power hungry individuals (and maybe they were). However, verse 65 made me see a different side of them. When Jesus answered that He was the Christ, the Son of God, "The high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses?..." He tore his clothes! I've been upset before, but I've never torn my clothes over it. (Yes, this was a more common practice back then, but still...) This encounter with Jesus rocked his soul. Something about Jesus disturbed him. Could it be that he truly thought this man, Jesus, was defaming the name of God? Could it be that he had devoted his whole live to God, so much that he assumed he understood God's plan for humanity?-and the thought of an impostor was infuriating. Self-righteousness is hard to recognize. By definition, it seems right. Even on the cross Jesus said "Forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." People who devoted their lives to God, wouldn't intentionally order the murder of the Son of God. They just didn't see. To them, Jesus was an impossible candidate. After all, he had grown up among them. They knew of his family--very human (as far as they could tell). They knew his "home"--a far cry from Heaven. They were mistaken. In my heart I've judged the pharisees for years. I saw them as part of God's plan, but I saw them as cold-hearted religious leaders. Today I found some compassion towards them. I wonder how many times have I mistaken God? Am I so sure about what's right in my eyes, that I've missed God's revelation?--God revealing himself in a new way, an unexpected way. In this same passage Jesus says "In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Sometimes, I live as if the story is done. I know Christ has the victory, my soul has been saved, and His way is best. I try to live accordingly. However, I don't want to be so caught up in what I know about Christ and what I'm assured of, that I stop looking for him today. I should be watching and awaiting His return. I should be getting to know Him so well, that when He returns--I know him! Perhaps, I should even expect to be surprised. (His ways are not my ways). I don't want to mistake Him or deny Him.
Jesus, may I know you better every day. I don't want to just know about you, I want to know YOU! I want to know your character and your voice, so that I will not miss you when you show up in my day to day life--or when you return to establish your kingdom. Reveal yourself to me. Remove my perspective and perception, and replace them with your promises and plans.
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