Friday, July 17, 2015

The wonder of it all

A few years back Point of Grace did a song called the Wonder of it All and here's part of the song.  "Feel the wonder of it all.  Let your heart and your mind receive an answer to the call.  Feel the wonder of it all.  Sweet Jesus.  The love of God- The wonder of it all."  A few days ago I was praying and thinking of one of my favorite verses.  1 Peter 5:7 "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."  I started thanking God because my mind broke down this verse to the separate parts of what it says. It says "Give all your worries and cares to God."  Not some of your worries and cares but ALL!  ALL means ALL!  There's no time frame to limit when I can come to him and pray and give things over to him.  But then you come to the why part.  Why would I give things over to God.  "For he cares about you."  All of us have parents and for the most part they're good people doing the best they know how.  They are here to be an example of God's love to his children.  Even if you haven't had the best parents if you are a Christian you have a Father in Heaven who cares for you and invites you to cast your cares and worries on him.  Here's another invitation for us.  "Then Jesus said `Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'"  And one more invitation can be found in Psalms 23:2-3 "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake"  Maybe its time we stop having as many frets as a guitar shop and turn our cares over to God and trust him because He cares for us.  Let us once again get caught up in the love he has for us.  "Let us get drenched under God's good rain caught in a deluge of mercies."  I truly believe once again this needs to be spoken and sung by us as the truth of our hearts.  "I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and wonder how he could love me a sinner condemned unclean, O how Marvelous O how wonderful!  O how Wonderful! is my Savior's love for me."  

















 
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Friday, July 10, 2015

clear

In the Star Wars universe Yoda, Obi-Wan, Vader and the Emperor talk a lot about the path one must choose.  In churches you hear a lot of people wanting to know what God wants them to do.  Its not as confusing as some people make it out to be.  God is usually very clear with people.  Like this is incredibly clear.  "No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."  Micah 6:8.  This past Thursday something happened to me that left me momentarily confused.  I was leaving work and I walked to the door and started towards the side of the building where I parked.  I saw something green on the ground.  I bent down and it was a $100.00 bill.  I started looking around and found an HEB receipt but it had no name on it.  So sure I could have kept the money but I didn't.  It was a lot of money.  I went back to the security desk and told Linda and James the guards.  They at first encouraged me to keep it.  That just didn't sit right with me.  So they held on to it till a lady came and asked about it.  Later I was relaying to Marion what happened and how I was still feeling confused about what I had done.  This is what my wife of 3 years in a few days said.  "You are the type of person who would be bothered by this.  God wouldn't allow you to just take it."  what's weird is that last thing Marion said not more than 2 days later was repeated by Linda the guard.  It was confirmation to me that I had done exactly what God had required of me.  it got stranger Linda decided a thank you note was not enough from the lady whose money i had returned.  Linda went out of her way and got an Avengers blanket and gave it to me.  Alicia was the name of whose money i found.  She thanked me and in her note copied her supervisor who gave me an award through our award system at work.  I tell you this not because I did something special because I didn't.  When God tells you things a lot of times it is very clear what you should do.  Proverbs 4:20-27 gives us some very clear things.  "My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words.  Don't lose sight of them.  Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.  Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.  Avoid all perverse talk.  Stay away from corrupt speech.  Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.  Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.  Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil."  Your road map was just laid out for you get up and go.  


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Thursday, July 2, 2015

making an exit

There's a phrase often used in today's culture of "Elvis has left the building."  I want to point you to a better exit one that followers of God should strive for.  This year my Paw Paw passed away and my dad preached the funeral and my dad has this saying where he asks people to leave no doubt as to where your eternal soul is going.  There's a verse in Hebrews 11 that has always stuck in my head as one of the most peaceful and amazing things and never once have I heard a pastor say anything about it.  Hebrews 11:21 "It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff."  In my mind I see an old man who has lived a long life and is still praising and thanking God.  There's a song that sums up this verse to me at least.  "And on that day when my strength is failing.  The end draws near and my time has come.  Still my soul will sing your praise unending ten thousand years and then forevermore."  There's been a lot going on this wee as far as the media and social media where it seems evil is winning.  We have a life filled with choices and our choices like Jacob's affect our exit from this world and that of those around us.  Joshua 24:14-15 says this.  "So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly.  Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River in Egypt.  Serve the Lord alone.  But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve.  Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates?  Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live?  But as for me and my family we will serve the Lord."  Jacob and Joshua chose God.  I would very much like my life and exit from this world to be much like Jacob where it ends with me worshiping God.  If you want hope follow God because we have this hope: "When with the ransomed in glory his face I at last shall see.  'Twill be my joy through the ages to sing of his love for me."  My challenge to you the reader is this if you choose to follow God do so with the purpose of glorifying him in all things.  Live your life on purpose.  Get off the sidelines.  Its not about you its about God.   







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