Snarfs and warts
Growing up in the 80’s there was a cartoon some of you may have seen and probably already made a connection with by the title of the blog. There was a character on Thundercats by the name of Snarf. Some consider him to be the most annoying part of the entire show. But there were times I could relate to the guy. As an adult I still watch the dvds. This guy was not always the brightest crayon in the box. He would stress about things and then say what he was bothered by and follow it up with “Snarf, Snarf.” One of my readers or more just got his voice in their head. My grandma had a term for characters like Snarf because it ran in the family and she was one. The term was “A Worry wart.” I’ve been one lately and I’m sure you have too. God has a better plan. He offers peace and hope.
Philippians 4:6-9
“Don’t worry about anything,” The verse isn’t complete I want to stop the reader right there. How much did Paul tell us God wanted us to worry about? Anything! Zip zero nada not a thing. Stop it! Don’t concern your pretty little head. The deeper you get into these verses you’ll see why. Ok carry on then.
“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable— if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise— dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me and the God of peace will be with you.”
It’s a battle for your heart and mind. God wants you to win it but you can’t without him.
Colossians 3:15
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Romans 8:5-9
“For those whose lives are according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those whose lives are according to the Spirit; about the things of the Spirit. For the mind set of the flesh is death, but the mind set of the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so. Those whose lives are in the flesh are unable to please God. You however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit since the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he does not belong to him.”
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Saturday, September 28, 2019
Snarfs and warts
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Hold
Hold
Tuesday afternoon my wife, Marion and I were in our garage and she walked towards me and something happened. Now you must understand she and I are some of the most accident prone people ever. We have a fence in part of the garage and she started coming towards me and didn’t see our dog, Sofie’s water bowl and suddenly on instinct I reached out and wrapped her in my arms in a half hug. So there she was holding onto the fence and I was holding her and I made sure she was okay before I ever let her go.
This is a blog of hope and you and I are going to have good and bad days.
But I want you to read some hope.
Lamentations 3:21-26
“Yet I call this to mind and therefore I have hope.
Because of the Lord’s faithful love
We do not perish
For his mercies never end.
They are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness!
I say the Lord is my portion
Therefore I will put my hope in him.
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
It is good to wait quietly for deliverance from the Lord.”
You and I we’re tripping over a dog’s water bowl having good and bad days but God calls us to seek him for hope. His mercies and loving kindness are new every morning and he holds them out to us. We’ve got to wake up and seek him.
“Thought if I just got a hold
Thought if I could only gain control
I could say just having it all
The more I tightened my grip
The more I felt the fall
Until I realized I couldn’t make it alone
Then it hit me that’s when it started.
I let go and God got a hold on me
I was nearing the edge
Slipping over the ledge
Till God got a hold on me.”
Friday, September 13, 2019
Casting
Casting
Have you ever been so anxious and worked up mentally that you prayed till you fell asleep. That was me this past Saturday and for about the last week and a half. I’m afraid of heights. This past Sunday, Real Life Corpus Campus met at the Schlitterbahn Waterparks Resorts for church and there is a bridge you have to drive over to get there from where we live. I was very much not wanting to drive over this. I made a commitment to go between me, my wife Marion and Pastor Micah. We were going to follow where God was leading the church. I’ve also been praying a lot about my work situation because I may have a job but the hours aren’t there. I’m applying for a new job to whatever I can think of. I often pray till I fall asleep lately.
I have mentioned before in the blog that one of the most important verses you can memorize is this.
1 Peter 5:7
“Casting all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”
Then Monday night I was working through my Youversion app reading plan and it brought me to this.
John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
I don’t know what’s going to happen in my life. But God is my refuge and where I am turning.
I was also brought to Psalm 18 this week and if you’ve never read the chapter it is beautiful. Maybe one of you is like me and you’re struggling and you might need these verses too.
Psalm 18:1-3
“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised. And I am saved from my enemies.”
Praise the Lord by Selah this song is originally by the Imperials and they describe it as the In Between song because it’s meant to be lyrically a song that gets you through spiritual battles and reminds you where God is and what you need to do in the meantime.
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Remain
Remain
God calls us over and over to remain in him. I’ve been reading through 1 John and Philippians lately and came across two passages about this. Knowing and following God is about an ongoing relationship where we are changed by drawing closer to him. It’s a lot like a marriage in that you have to interact with your spouse. I can tell you personally when I work a lot and I don’t spend much time with Marion I can feel the disconnect between us. I don’t always get it right either when I kinda realize I need to talk to her. It’s the same with prayer and Bible study. We have to spend time with God to remain with him.
Philippians 1:9-11
“And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment so that you can determine what really matters most and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”
Did you see that? The closer we get to Christ the better we are able to determine what really matters most. We are also made pure and blameless and exhibit God’s Fruit.
“Changing of the Heart renewing of the mind it’s the only possible solution.” Evolution Redefined by Geoff Moore and the Distance
Also lines up with Romans 12:1-2
But I mentioned there was also another passage.
1 John 2:24-27
“What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life. I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in him.”
Now maybe you’re like me and you get swept up in the busyness of life and need reminders to spend time in God’s Word. If you’re reading this via email or Facebook well I just delivered some of it to you but perhaps you want more. We recently had a life group leader’s meeting and Pastor Micah encouraged us to get the Youversion app for our phones. In some ways the thing makes me feel guilty for not reading as often as I should but this handy app let’s you select the version of the Bible you want and sends you a verse each day. You also get to set up reading plans with devotional. It’s extremely handy and helpful. Another thing I would personally recommend because this blog is set up for the busy person I can suggest a devotional guide quite similar. Singer, Bible teacher and former co host of the 700 Club Sheila Walsh has a series of I believe she’s up to 3 books now called 5 minutes with Jesus. They are perfect for a busy person. I’ve been through the first two books. This blog is to help people draw closer to God and I’ve just supplied you with three helpful tools. “And knowing is half the battle!”
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