Luke 8:22-25
The disciples were experienced fishermen. For them to be afraid of the storm meant it was a very big, very bad storm. It was bigger than they could handle. Sometimes I don't acknowledge how big the storm is. I don't admit how bad the storm has become. Therefore I don't recognize how much help I need.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
A Lesson #2
Luke 8:22-25
Don't trust the bluster of the wind and the waves. Trust the power of the God who is at rest in the boat.
Don't trust the bluster of the wind and the waves. Trust the power of the God who is at rest in the boat.
Friday, September 17, 2010
A Lesson #1
Luke 8:22-25
Jesus said, " “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” I can trust him to get us to the destination, despite the storms along the way.
Jesus said, " “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” I can trust him to get us to the destination, despite the storms along the way.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
My mistake
Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God." Mark 12:24
Christ's comment to the Sadducees is His answer to me when I bring Him the confusions of my beliefs. He doesn't argue with me in the twists and turns of my own thinking. Instead He takes me back to basics: Know the Scriptures. Know the power of God.
Christ's comment to the Sadducees is His answer to me when I bring Him the confusions of my beliefs. He doesn't argue with me in the twists and turns of my own thinking. Instead He takes me back to basics: Know the Scriptures. Know the power of God.
Monday, September 13, 2010
God made THIS day
This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Silly me. I look at the day ahead and think it is mine.
But God made this day. It is His.
Wonder what He has planned?
Friday, September 10, 2010
How to pray the Lord's Prayer
STEP 1: Remind myself Who I am talking to.
a. He is mine: Our Father
b. He is God: which art in heaven,
c. He is good: Hallowed be thy name.
d. He is great: Thy kingdom come.
e. He is able. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
STEP 2: Request what I need:
a. Provision: Give us this day our daily bread.
b. Pardon: And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
c. Protection: And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
STEP 3: Remind myself Who I am talking to.
For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever and ever. Amen.
a. He is mine: Our Father
b. He is God: which art in heaven,
c. He is good: Hallowed be thy name.
d. He is great: Thy kingdom come.
e. He is able. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
STEP 2: Request what I need:
a. Provision: Give us this day our daily bread.
b. Pardon: And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
c. Protection: And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
STEP 3: Remind myself Who I am talking to.
For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever and ever. Amen.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
REALLY Wanting Wisdom
Proverbs 2:1-4 Personalized and elaborated.
Lord, help me listen [but not the way I listen to the radio while driving, or how I pay attention to the child tugging at my shirt while I talk on the phone]
to what You say [through Your Word, through Your people, through Your Spirit] [whether or not I like what you say],
and treasure [like the one thing I'd grab if the house was on fire] Your commands [which aren't suggestions, or wise ideas, but are required of me as your child].
Help me to tune my ears to [like I acutely hear the cry of my baby among all the other sounds in crowded nursery] Your wisdom [YOUR wisdom -- the wisdom that is from above and "is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy" (James 3:17)] and concentrate on [focus on, like I do when learning something new] understanding.
Hear me as I cry out [plead and beg as though my life depended on it] for insight, and ask for understanding. Enable me to search for them as I would for silver [for that which is precious to me, as I would for my lost child]; seek them like hidden treasures [recognizing that Your insight and understanding are not always obvious or easy to spot].
Lord, help me listen [but not the way I listen to the radio while driving, or how I pay attention to the child tugging at my shirt while I talk on the phone]
to what You say [through Your Word, through Your people, through Your Spirit] [whether or not I like what you say],
and treasure [like the one thing I'd grab if the house was on fire] Your commands [which aren't suggestions, or wise ideas, but are required of me as your child].
Help me to tune my ears to [like I acutely hear the cry of my baby among all the other sounds in crowded nursery] Your wisdom [YOUR wisdom -- the wisdom that is from above and "is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy" (James 3:17)] and concentrate on [focus on, like I do when learning something new] understanding.
Hear me as I cry out [plead and beg as though my life depended on it] for insight, and ask for understanding. Enable me to search for them as I would for silver [for that which is precious to me, as I would for my lost child]; seek them like hidden treasures [recognizing that Your insight and understanding are not always obvious or easy to spot].
Monday, September 6, 2010
Wisdom to know the difference
For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6)
I am reminded of the famous prayer of serenity:
I am reminded of the famous prayer of serenity:
GOD, grant me
the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Seems like the key thing here may not be 'serenity' or 'courage' but 'wisdom'. If I am serene when I could be courageous, or courageous when I should be serene, things get really messed up. I either miss opportunities to influence for good, or waste time and energy. The wisdom of discernment is the greater gift.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
OUR Father (yet again)
Matthew 6:9-13
OUR Father. Who is included in OUR? It is the generations of believers before us. The God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Esther, Ruth, and Mary Magdalene. St. Augustine, Mother Teresa, and my grandmother. It is the generations after us. The God of Justin, Drake, Christena, Esther. He is the Father of all of us who have become his children by faith. And when we pray to OUR father, we join a great chorus none can count -- greater than the stars of the heavens or sands of the sea.
OUR Father. Who is included in OUR? It is the generations of believers before us. The God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Esther, Ruth, and Mary Magdalene. St. Augustine, Mother Teresa, and my grandmother. It is the generations after us. The God of Justin, Drake, Christena, Esther. He is the Father of all of us who have become his children by faith. And when we pray to OUR father, we join a great chorus none can count -- greater than the stars of the heavens or sands of the sea.
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