Psalm 84:12 O Lord of Heavens Armies, What Joy for those who trust in You. Earlier in the same Psalm it says what joy for those who's strength comes from the Lord, and What Joy for those who can live in Your house. and my favorite verse 2 With my whole being, Body and Soul, I will SHOUT joyfully to the living God. The common Thread throughout the Psalms is Praise and Joy. I have read the whole book and it is awesome. I want to start over again from the beginning, in fact I think I might. God is real, God is Alive. In times of great distress the writers of Psalms decided to Praise God. When You praise God and remember his goodness, you in turn are filled with Joy. It's not always that you ask for it. Its only that He loves us enough to give it to us. I have experienced this first hand. There is a verse in there that says...The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, He comforts those who are crushed in spirit. I have felt crushed many times. None more so than when my wife Rachael Passed away. I cried out to God and he gave me joy. I never understood how He did, How it was even possible, In fact I still don't. I don't need to understand. I only need to be thankful that I have him to lean on. He carried me, He gave me strength I didn't know I had, And he gave me Joy If You can believe that!. In turn it only made me want to praise him more. God Is so great. So this week I learned a few more lessons about joy, Here is one.
I showed up late to the building, The time was ticking away. I had no desire to do the task at hand. I also had no choice, the job was mine alone and if no one else came through I knew I had to. I know we have all been there a time or two. So I walked in and figured I could just git-R-Done quickly. Then as I looked ahead my entire plan unraveled. There was now twice as much to do and I was twice as hopeless as before that I would ever get done. I complained to myself slightly for a moment as I began. I thought about all the reasons I alone was stuck with this load. Then I remembered a Psalm. I lift my eyes up to the Lord, where does my help come from, My help comes from the Lord, Maker of Heaven and Earth. That's the song version, but you get the idea. I looked up and made a decision. I said to the Lord, " God shouldn't I be joyful at the fact that I get to serve You? Shouldn't I too praise You when obstacles arise? Shouldn't I just be Overwhelmed with Joy at the fact that you saved me.? How meaningless is this task, And How is my bad attitude going to make my situation any better?" I then began to work with a whole different mindset. Praising Him. Just then 1 person showed up and began helping. And I make no exaggeration but not even 5 minutes later 2 more people showed up and we finished the task with ease. Every opportunity is one in which we can learn. I learned a lot that day and I hope I can remember the next time I face a meaningless frustrating task.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Daytime of the Night...
What was it that I did? Well I passed by and said nothing. What was it that stopped me in my tracks? The truth is that it didn't really phase me. Who was it that made me think I was okay? I think the fact that I am okay. Okay well You would think that if you saw me. I look pretty normal. What is Normal anyway and who was it that set this standard of normalcy. Do I look different? Not because I intentionally try to run against the crowd so I can be a trend setter. And not because I hate what You tell me to be (Although sometimes I do). Do I stand out because You see something in me. I could only hope so.
I realize that as i run toward Holiness I have found myself unintentionally running away from the world. The hype and the buzz no longer stir me. I can remember a time when the thing I longed for most was to see the next episode of whatever or to hear about the latest - fill in your blank here- Yep that was me living for things that are temporary. I found over the past year I have desired to be closer to God. My pursuit came to life. I didn't figure out a way to go to church more or try better to do the things that everyone knows "church People" are supposed to do. I instead tried to find out more about the God I serve. He is the creator of everything. I believe that with all my heart. Not only that but someone so awesome and so powerful wants to be with me. He actually wants me to have relationship with him. He desires it. He doesn't just want to tell me what to do.
As I look at my journey I see an entirely different person standing here now and I know I have so much further to go. God is so awesome. I am literally in awe of him. I am finding that as I run after him I am leaving behind things that used to be important to me. I just don't care about them anymore. . Suddenly the things that are important to me are more selfless. How can I be a light that God wants me to be? If it means I have to give more up I will welcome it. What does it really matter in this life anyway. I know it wont always be easy. The things I see as a sacrifice today are really nothing compared true sacrifice. Now why do I Ask what i did?
I rode my bike the other day and saw a group of kids hanging out in the park. I thought something that I really haven't thought much about. What are they going through? Where are there hearts? They are important to God and should be important to me. After I passed by I wondered Why I didn't have the courage to go over and tell them about the hope that I have inside. What good is a light hid under a bush. What good is all of this pursuit If I never do anything with it. My own Feelings meant more to me at that time than the eternal life of people that Jesus loved and gave his life for. As you can see I am not the best at all of this I have so much more to learn but God is always teaching me in every situation. In all the things that I read about in the Bible. And in the Godly people he has surrounded me with like P. Jay, Felix, and Ricardo. I remember thinking what would Felix(My friend) have done, He would have more courage, Lord thanks for surrounding me with people that encourage me and challenge me to be more like You.
I believe God has a purpose and the people I meet and we all meet are around us for a reason. Either to encourage us or for us to encourage them.
Be the light.
1 Peter 4:2-3 You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy-Their immorality and lust, Their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
1 Peter 3: 15 Instead worship Christ as Lord of Your life. And if someone asks about your christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
1 Peter 2:11-12 Dear friends, I warn You as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among the unbelieving neighbors, Then even if they accuse You of doing wrong, They will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
1 Peter 1:14-15 So You must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, Just as God who chose you is holy. For the scriptures say "Be Holy, For I am Holy."
I realize that as i run toward Holiness I have found myself unintentionally running away from the world. The hype and the buzz no longer stir me. I can remember a time when the thing I longed for most was to see the next episode of whatever or to hear about the latest - fill in your blank here- Yep that was me living for things that are temporary. I found over the past year I have desired to be closer to God. My pursuit came to life. I didn't figure out a way to go to church more or try better to do the things that everyone knows "church People" are supposed to do. I instead tried to find out more about the God I serve. He is the creator of everything. I believe that with all my heart. Not only that but someone so awesome and so powerful wants to be with me. He actually wants me to have relationship with him. He desires it. He doesn't just want to tell me what to do.
As I look at my journey I see an entirely different person standing here now and I know I have so much further to go. God is so awesome. I am literally in awe of him. I am finding that as I run after him I am leaving behind things that used to be important to me. I just don't care about them anymore. . Suddenly the things that are important to me are more selfless. How can I be a light that God wants me to be? If it means I have to give more up I will welcome it. What does it really matter in this life anyway. I know it wont always be easy. The things I see as a sacrifice today are really nothing compared true sacrifice. Now why do I Ask what i did?
I rode my bike the other day and saw a group of kids hanging out in the park. I thought something that I really haven't thought much about. What are they going through? Where are there hearts? They are important to God and should be important to me. After I passed by I wondered Why I didn't have the courage to go over and tell them about the hope that I have inside. What good is a light hid under a bush. What good is all of this pursuit If I never do anything with it. My own Feelings meant more to me at that time than the eternal life of people that Jesus loved and gave his life for. As you can see I am not the best at all of this I have so much more to learn but God is always teaching me in every situation. In all the things that I read about in the Bible. And in the Godly people he has surrounded me with like P. Jay, Felix, and Ricardo. I remember thinking what would Felix(My friend) have done, He would have more courage, Lord thanks for surrounding me with people that encourage me and challenge me to be more like You.
I believe God has a purpose and the people I meet and we all meet are around us for a reason. Either to encourage us or for us to encourage them.
Be the light.
1 Peter 4:2-3 You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy-Their immorality and lust, Their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
1 Peter 3: 15 Instead worship Christ as Lord of Your life. And if someone asks about your christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
1 Peter 2:11-12 Dear friends, I warn You as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among the unbelieving neighbors, Then even if they accuse You of doing wrong, They will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
1 Peter 1:14-15 So You must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, Just as God who chose you is holy. For the scriptures say "Be Holy, For I am Holy."
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