Running in Circles February 23, 2012

I just saw a commercial for a medical Scooter Repair. The commercial started with a man asking a question. “Is your chair running slow?” Then there was a picture of a slow-moving scooter with a very unhappy occupant.

Next, the man asked another question “Is your chair running in circles?” Again, there was a picture of the medical scooter circling round and round. I’m guessing the occupant was not very pleased with their scooter performance.

Please note: I am in no way making fun of any medical disability or making a joke about someone needing these valuable tools to get around.

My first thought – Sometimes I feel like I am moving slowly through life with everyone one else going in the fast lane and I am in the “turtle-zone”. Other times I feel like my life is going in circles – slowly circling around my problems.

The good news has always been the Good News!

Isaiah 40:9 (NIV): You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”

Mark 1: 1 (NIV) The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God

Life moving slowly? Running in circles?
Proclaim the Good News – Walk Faithfully.

Genesis 17:1 (NIV) I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.

Fill Your Tabernacle February 22, 2012

Exodus 40 is the last chapter in the Book of Exodus. Finally, after all the hard work of gathering offerings, working on the Lord’s project, following the Lord’s specific instructions, the Israelites completed the Lord’s Tabernacle. This last chapter of Exodus shows the final preparations for the Tent of Meetings, waiting for the Lord to fill the tabernacle.

Exodus 40 1-11 says: Then the LORD said to Moses: “Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month. Place the Ark of the Covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it. Then bring in the lamp stand and set up its lamps. Place the gold altar of incense in front of the Ark of the Covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

All through the last chapter there is a recurring statement. Several verses stated that the gifts of each person were God-given-gifts. Reviewing the Lord’s instructions to each group of crafts-person, the writer says: as the Lord commanded him. (Verse 16, Verse 19, Verse 23, Verse 25, Verse 29, Verse 32)
Then, and only then, did the Glory of the Lord fill the tabernacle. Watch and listen for the Lord’s instructions – just as He has commanded you – Watch and Wait for the Glory of the Lord to fill your tabernacle.
 Exodus 40: 34-35: Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Willing February 21, 2012

I’ve been reading Exodus; the story of Moses and the Israelites. God required a Tabernacle, an Ark, an altar and priestly vestments. All of the gold, silver and material including thread to be woven into garments came from the Israelites; precious commodities to the people on the run from the Egyptians. Commodities gathered in a rush during the call for flight.

But listen! In Exodus 25, after Moses called a meeting and asked the Israelites for their possessions. Some of the Israelites had a open heart and “willingly” brought all gold, silver and bronze, blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows, acacia wood, olive oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and fragrant incense and onyx stones and other gems as an offering to the Lord.

In Exodus 25: 20-21: Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.

Everyone who was willing – everyone whose heart moved them!

Today, are you willing to let your heart move you as an offering to the LORD?

Forgiveness February 21, 2012

When forgiveness is requested, do you feel it’s easier to forgive others or forgive family members? I’ve been pondering and struggling with this question. Even one of my daily readings from Stomie Omartian said: It’s very easy to have un-forgiveness toward family members because they are with us the most, know us the best and can hurt us the deepest. But for those very same reasons, un-forgiveness toward one of them will bring the greatest devastation in our lives. That’s why forgiveness must start at home.

Family, why is it the hardest to forgive our loved ones. Is it because, as Stormie Omartian said, family knows our hot spots and cut us the deepest?

Family means: ancestors, descendants, lineage, family tree and blood.

Since the Bible is the Truth – Let’s see what the Bible says in this matter: (NIV)

Ancestors:
Leviticus 26: 45: But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the LORD.

Descendants:
John 7: 42: Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?

Lineage:
Genesis 5: 1: This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God.

Family Tree:
Matthew 1:16: and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. (Savior)

Blood:
1 John 1:7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

OK, OK, I know Lord; surrender! I need to immerse myself in your Word; once again. I remember your Covenant. You created all of us in Your likeness; not just me but my loved ones and others as well. Jesus will help me walk in His light while I fellowship with others. Jesus will purify me from sin when I ask His forgiveness and ask forgiveness from others.

Just give me another minute.
I’ll start asking and stop my whining!

My Soul Waits February 20, 2012

Psalm 62:1-2, 7 (NRSV)
For God alone my soul waits in silence;
From Him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken…
On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

My soul waits
God is my salvation
He – Alone – is my rock, my fortress
My mighty Rock – My refuge
God – Alone – gives me rest with His promise of deliverance
My soul waits
I will never be shaken as my soul waits

Let My Imagination Run February 19, 2012

Please enjoy: Let My Imagination Run by Stephen Bautista

Sunday is Worship Day February 19, 2012

SUNDAY IS WORSHIP DAY

Please enjoy: You Bless Me by Stephen Bautista

http://www.stephenbautistamusic.com/you-bless-me-a-thanksgiving-song

Psalm Saturday February 18, 2012

Lately, I have been re-reading Psalms! I love Psalms and I’m pretty sure most of Bible enthusiast’s love Psalms too.

I’ve decided to change my post; just a little. On Saturday’s I am gong to post a Saturday Psalm. But I will use different versions of the Bible instead of the normal NKJ, KJV, etc.

I have found when I read a verse in another Bible version, I often find new insights.

God Bless you and welcome to Psalm Saturday.

My troubles turned out all for the best
They forced me to learn from Your textbook
Truth from Your mouth means more to me
Than striking it rich in a gold mine
With Your very own hands You formed me
Now breathe Your wisdom over me so I can understand You

Psalm 119: 71-73 (The Message)

My suffering was good for me,
for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Your instructions are more valuable to me
than millions in gold and silver.
 Yodh
You made me; you created me.
Now give me the sense to follow your commands.

Psalm 119: 71-73 (New Living Translation)

Are you Blooming? February 16, 2012

A couple of days before Super Bowl I was watching the cooking channel. One of the famous women at Food TV was giving directions about great and fattening recipes for bowl parties. I’ll give you a hint – butter-butter-butter and fry-fry-fry.

One of the recipes was for a Blooming Onion. One huge, Vidalia onion was pealed, turned over and sliced into slim sections – but very importantly – those sections were not cut through to the core. Then the onion was dipped into a batter, fluffed up a bit and fried until cooked through. Even though I am not crazy about onions, fried or not, the Blooming Onion looked fantastic.

Have you ever felt like a blooming onion? Has your spiritual self felt, at times, that God is carefully pealing you, giving you a good turn around, and slicing your life into thin sections – all the while keeping your Core intact? Have you felt like your life has been dipped into batter, fried up and cooked through and through?

I know I’ve felt like God has put me through the fry-zone a couple of times in my life. He turned me over and fluffed me up. In the end, that “hot spot” in my life was for my own good and God gave me the life-lessons I needed at that time.

So keep Blooming in the Hot-Spots of your life – God will not cut you to the core – Your life will look fantastic when God finishes the recipe.

Psalm 71: 21-23: Thou shalt increase my greatness and comfort me on every side. I will also praise Thee with the psaltery, even Thy truth, O my God; unto Thee will I sing with the harp, O Thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto Thee; and my soul, which Thou hast redeemed

Have a little faith (Part III) – Book by Mitch Albom February 15, 2012

Any time you justify yourself with works – you disqualify yourself with works

You can still embrace your faith’s authenticity and still accept that others believe in something else

When faith is being tested – the trust test is to drink from the cup of sorrow and heal your broken heart through faith – faith can sooth by making death more bearable

We are all frail parts of something Beautiful

In the beginning there was a question – In the end the question gets answered – but its all one song – one, same, wonderful, human song.

Only difference between marital and martial is where you put the “I”

Another sermon from the book:

What’s the difference between Heaven and Hell?

In Hell – people sat around a banquet table filled with meats and delicacies – But the people’s arms were locked in front of them – unable to partake

In Heaven – people sat around a banquet table filled with meats and delicacies with their arms out in front of them.

What’s the difference?

The people in Heaven were feeding each other!