Sunday, April 23, 2017

Greek Craving

Greek craving 

What do Greek people and disciples and Zac liking Gyros have in common?  I want the same thing the Greek people wanted.  I love Greek Gyros my wife can tell you I drive her nuts for a chance to eat them.  Phillip and Andrew had an encounter with some Greek people and they asked the right question.  Not a question about gyros but about meeting Jesus.  John 12:20-22 has this simple story and i hope at some point this happens to you.  "Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Celebration paid a visit to Phillip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee.  They said, 'Sir, we want to meet Jesus.'  Phillip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus."  You and I have friends that our lives touch and intersect with.  I don't care if it's when you're eating Greek food or anything else when your friend tells you they want to meet Jesus you introduce them.  If you look at John 1:35-51 Phillip and Andrew were like living legos they were puzzle pieces they connected one disciple to another.  So for these Greek people coming up to them and asking to meet Jesus that was the thing they did.  But here's the catch not everyone you know even knows they want to or need to meet Jesus but that doesn't get you off the hook.  When you accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and let him change you from the inside out you accepted a mission.  Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  We are on Mission with God to reach the whole world.  See your pastor and church can't reach the whole world alone God has uniquely placed you in the lives of those you interact with.  

Posted by at No comments:

Monday, April 17, 2017

Closer

For the entire time I have been doing this Bible Study online there's been something I've tried to keep constant.  First and foremost I strive to please God and make sure his words matter.  For the reader I have always prayed that God will use this to bring them closer to him.  
I was reading and the apostle Paul said the things my heart wants for my readers of course more eloquently than I ever could phrase it.  See he knew a thing or two about Bible studies over long distances.    I mean hello writer of Half the New Testament all in letter form to churches.  Doesn't get more long distance than that.  And before any of you think I'm more special than anyone else I'm not I fail on a daily basis by getting angry and not being able to communicate properly.  I need God's grace and forgiveness just as much as you.  But I am bringing to you words I hope will encourage you.  
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 "So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call.  May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.  Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with Him.  This is all made possible because of the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ."  




Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Happy Easter

This Easter celebration I find myself marveling at God's amazing love and sacrifice and I just had it summed up in one line from the song In Heaven's Eyes by Sandi Patti. "And looking up we'll see Compassion's Fire ablaze in Heaven's Eyes." Compassion for undeserving sinners that's the message of the Cross and Crucifixion!


 

Sandi Patty In Heavens Eyes

Sandi singing in Heavens Eyes
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, April 10, 2017

Not done yet

Lamentations 3:20-33

God's not done with you and me yet we're a work in progress.  Philippians 1:6 "And I am certain that God who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."
I was reading in Lamentations and for almost two and half chapters it's bad news then suddenly I found this passage of hope that all of us need to remind us that God knows what's best for us and he's not done yet.  We need this encouragement to "continue the mission ".

20I will never forget this awful time,
as I grieve over my loss.
21Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:
22The faithful love of the LORD never ends!b
His mercies never cease.
23Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
24I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”
25The LORD is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for him.
26So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the LORD.
27And it is good for people to submit at an early age
to the yoke of his discipline:
28Let them sit alone in silence
beneath the LORD’s demands.
29Let them lie face down in the dust,
for there may be hope at last.
30Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them
and accept the insults of their enemies.
31For no one is abandoned
by the Lord forever.
32Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion
because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
33For he does not enjoy hurting people
or causing them sorrow.


For the newer people to the blog and e-mail portion if you ever notice i post the links to the songs and it shows the lyrics there are two reasons for this.  My wife Marion knows sign language and she prefers it this way so she can sign along.  Also the words are there because the lyrics are specific to the blog and i want you to be able to sing along and learn as well.  


Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)