Sunday, April 29, 2018

Constant One

Constant One

This blog deals in Hope.  I have a friend named Clyde who calls himself the Hope Giver.  I have mentioned before that I who have prayed for hope so many times am still blown away that God can find a way to use me to share hope with others.  As much as we as Christians desire hope we are to show unbelievers the Hope we have in Christ.   I am so thankful for God's word and his promises of hope.  See this blog has been Ephesians 3:20 come to life.  "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."    Pastor Micah has a term that he used a few years back in a sermon called "leveraging technology."  Here we are reading passages of scripture and listening to Christian music online and God uses that to reach people.  I've had people lately who read the blog tell me how much they appreciate it.  I show up and pray and post what God shows me to do.  I've said it so many times I want to be the least important part.  That all being said God has done more than I could ever imagine when I started this blog journey.  I still am shocked when people tell me they read it.  

Someone this week needs to be reminded that God never sleeps or slumbers and the many other promises in this powerful short chapter.  Just 8 verses filled to bursting with hope.  

Psalm 121

"I look up to the mountains-- does my help come from there?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!  He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.  Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.  The Lord himself watches over you!  The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.  The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.  The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.  The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever."

Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe."  
















I don't normally explain a song I put on here but I was thinking of the aspects of God being our protector and the next few songs seem to fit so well in regards to God protecting his children.  I wasn't originally going to put these here but I heard the D&K song on the way home from church and I normally relate it to fighting to protect my wife but today it just reminded me of God fighting battles for his people.  









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Sunday, April 22, 2018

Beauty in the commands

Beauty in the commands.

You hear a lot of people complaining about the do's and don't's people think of with God's commands but he put them in place to better our lives not ruin them.  Psalm 119 is a celebration of them.  Verses 89-96 are amazing because it displays things God has done for the author and us as well and deals with the preservation of God's word.  

"Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.  Your faithfulness extends to every generation as enduring as the earth you created.  Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.  If your instructions hadn't sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.  I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.  I am yours; rescue me!  For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments.  Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.  Even perfection has it's limits, but your commands have no limits."

We need to seek out God's commands for our lives.  I did a blog a few years back referring to a device in fiction called a Wayfinder's stone.  It was a stone one affixed to their shoe to light up and show you the right path.  God's word shows us the right way to go.  Verse 105 of Psalm 119 says this.  "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."  

See we have paths to choose in life whether to follow God or not.  That always brings us to a crossroads.  Some have seen this before but others haven't see there's an image that comes to mind for me when I think of Crossroads.  





Jeremiah 6:16 "Stop at the crossroads and look around.  Ask for the old, godly way and walk in it.  Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.  But you reply 'No, that's not the road we want!'"  


Choose carefully!



























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Sunday, April 15, 2018

Five time

So today I started to post this blog and I get the feeling someone needs it because my batteries in both my mouse and keyboard decided to die at the same time.  Also I got encouragement in a way that I least expected it.  Last Sunday I had three people coming up and encouraging the blog.  Noe, Cathy and Reuben. Then this past week Alex Garcia posted something on Facebook about Life Group sign ups starting again.  For those who haven't ever really seen this because some people are from other churches reading this we have tables set up in the church atrium which is rather large.  On the tables are sign up sheets and a description about that particular group.  I've never really been the type of person who interacts too well face to face with people.  I described sign up day in this manner.  "The most gratifying and nerve wracking day ever because I have to stand by a table and attempt to talk people into being a part of a online blog and then they realize I'm the weirdo that writes the thing."  See you're about to read a blog about facing our problems and our giants and sometimes my problem can be to keep doing this thing and facing people.  As a writer a lot of what you people get is me being brutally honest confronting what God teaches me.  Alex reminded me that not everything God calls us to do is going to look the same as what someone else's ministry will look like.  We who teach are going to have a target on us.  Satan knows exactly where the chinks in our armor are.  Discouragement can be mine.  On top of encouraging me she said she reads the blog in a backwards manner and there's nothing wrong with that.  She goes and tries to see what songs are suggested before reading.  Unique personality on that their lady and it's cool.  






I'm uniquely familiar with the number five.  As some know I'm a wrestling fan.  Booker T was a five time WCW champion.  Trish Stratus was a five time WWE women's champion.  I discovered the number 5 playing a significant role in Biblical events.  In Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus feeds the wait for it 5000.  There's a bunch of 5's in that particular number.  Then you get to verse 17.  "But we only have five loaves of bread and two fish."  They answered.  
Another significant event involving the number five.  In 1 Samuel 17:40 it talks about David getting ready to face Goliath.  How many stones did he take?  "He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd's bag.  Then armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine."  The disciples didn't seem to understand the math.  See one giant, five stones how many did David really need ONE.  How many loaves and fishes did Jesus need to feed 5000.  Only Five and Two.  God's math doesn't always make sense to us.  In Empire Strikes Back, Han Solo says "Never tell me the odds."  Although it sounds violent David had the right thing to say to his problem.  1 Samuel 17:45-47 "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven's Armies-- The God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied.  Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with a sword and spear.  This is the Lord's battle, and he will give you to us."  See sometimes we have to remind the problems we face that the God we serve is bigger.  Five loaves and two fish, five smooth stones, 5000 the number isn't the issue.  Do you trust God to be bigger than the problem that's the real question? 




















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