So selfish I am.
I act in ways to my gain.
Forget others.
Not one but me, that's what matters.
Inward my thoughts go,
Into this black hole of my soul.
Who will save me?
Psalm 119:36-40
Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to SELFISH gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
CONFIRM to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
Behold I LONG for your precepts;
in YOUR righteousness give me LIFE!
AMEN.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
A prayer of regretable words.
Oh! Sorrow that is so bitter
Even more severe the pain in the bowls,
Fists against the wall the pain will not fall,
What Grace should indwell but that of Christ's?
Take me Home or give me reason,
Without You I'm not satisfied,
Direct my sorrow slow my anger,
My tongue set ablaze by the Spirit,
Once again humbled by Your love.
Teach me to speak Grace.
Amen
Even more severe the pain in the bowls,
Fists against the wall the pain will not fall,
What Grace should indwell but that of Christ's?
Take me Home or give me reason,
Without You I'm not satisfied,
Direct my sorrow slow my anger,
My tongue set ablaze by the Spirit,
Once again humbled by Your love.
Teach me to speak Grace.
Amen
Friday, April 13, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
I love athletics. And I love watching an athlete work hard to achieve a new goal.
I am currently living in East Tennessee and this place has some of the hilliest roads I have ever seen.
The biking group here are pretty intense. No more then two men I saw today.
Taking on one of the steepest hills in my area they were pushing and sweating as each pedal fell and the other rose. Wearing helmets and protective pants they trudged forward. The wind picked up and their little red ties flew behind them like capes.
I hope you realize that who I saw today were two men of the Morman faith spreading their word with the same vigor as any of the best bicyclers.
They did encourage me. Not that I believe Mormanism in the least. It is encouraging to know that if these men with a false message can work this hard to spread it, how much more can I with the TRUTH?
Remember the false prophets of Baal and Elijah? This is much the same thought. The false prophets worked so hard for their altar to bring forth fire.
2 Kimgs 18:24-40
24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken."
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it."
26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.
27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."
28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.
29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down.
31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name,"
32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood."
34 And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time.
35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.
36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back."
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God."
40 And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape." And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.
These men bicycling up this hill are providing themselves nothing more for their lives than larger muscles and stamena. Both of these are very vital to staying healthy on earth. Neither of those help you enter the Kingdom of our LORD.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
May the LORD create prepare for me a road both up hill and down hill, making me His workmanship, not of my own strength.
Amen
I am currently living in East Tennessee and this place has some of the hilliest roads I have ever seen.
The biking group here are pretty intense. No more then two men I saw today.
Taking on one of the steepest hills in my area they were pushing and sweating as each pedal fell and the other rose. Wearing helmets and protective pants they trudged forward. The wind picked up and their little red ties flew behind them like capes.
I hope you realize that who I saw today were two men of the Morman faith spreading their word with the same vigor as any of the best bicyclers.
They did encourage me. Not that I believe Mormanism in the least. It is encouraging to know that if these men with a false message can work this hard to spread it, how much more can I with the TRUTH?
Remember the false prophets of Baal and Elijah? This is much the same thought. The false prophets worked so hard for their altar to bring forth fire.
2 Kimgs 18:24-40
24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken."
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it."
26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.
27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."
28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.
29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down.
31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name,"
32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood."
34 And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time.
35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.
36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back."
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God."
40 And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape." And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.
These men bicycling up this hill are providing themselves nothing more for their lives than larger muscles and stamena. Both of these are very vital to staying healthy on earth. Neither of those help you enter the Kingdom of our LORD.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
May the LORD create prepare for me a road both up hill and down hill, making me His workmanship, not of my own strength.
Amen
Sunday, April 8, 2012
I can think of nothing more fitting to write about than these scriptures today.
MATTHEW 28:1-8
"1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
5 But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you."
8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples."
MARK 15:1-8
"1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.
2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
3 And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"
4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back-it was very large.
5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.
6 And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."
8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid."
LUKE 24:1-8
"1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.
5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,
7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise."
8 And they remembered his words,
9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest."
JOHN 20:1-8
"1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.
4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;"
As I studied these scripture accounts about the resurrection I was perplexed as to why all the accounts were different, yet with the same out come. The Messiah was no longer in the tomb.
A commentator I respect had this to say about these accounts.
"Critics may say that the Biblical witnesses discredit themselves with bias and contradictions. But surely you can’t rule out a witness for the resurrection because he believes in it. That’s like deciding the issue before you have heard the evidence, since more than likely those who did see it would believe it. As for the charge of contradictions, it may be that apparent discrepancies (like one angel vs. two angels at the tomb, Mark 16:15; Luke 24:4) are owing to different but not disparate ways of reporting the same perceived reality. But even if we admitted minor discrepancies in detail a witness is not discredited for that, especially if his testimony is largely corroborated by others.
So how shall we credit these witnesses? Persons win our trust by the beauty of their character. When all we have is their writings (and that is all we have) then we must try to perceive the spirit and the purpose of the writer in his message. If we detect a spirit of humility and integrity and sobriety and a purpose of love and truth then we will give credence to the author. If we detect a conniving, duplicitous, self-seeking attitude, we will tend to discredit what he said."
1 Corithians 15:3-8
"3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me."
I am also reminded that the apostles had thought with the death of Christ all hope was lost, they scattered scared and hid because the "hope" they had was lost.
LUKE 24:21
"But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened."
I believe and trust that my savior lived and died and conquered death. So that my life is not living to die, but living to live.
MATTHEW 28:1-8
"1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
5 But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you."
8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples."
MARK 15:1-8
"1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.
2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
3 And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"
4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back-it was very large.
5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.
6 And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."
8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid."
LUKE 24:1-8
"1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.
5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,
7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise."
8 And they remembered his words,
9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest."
JOHN 20:1-8
"1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.
4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;"
As I studied these scripture accounts about the resurrection I was perplexed as to why all the accounts were different, yet with the same out come. The Messiah was no longer in the tomb.
A commentator I respect had this to say about these accounts.
"Critics may say that the Biblical witnesses discredit themselves with bias and contradictions. But surely you can’t rule out a witness for the resurrection because he believes in it. That’s like deciding the issue before you have heard the evidence, since more than likely those who did see it would believe it. As for the charge of contradictions, it may be that apparent discrepancies (like one angel vs. two angels at the tomb, Mark 16:15; Luke 24:4) are owing to different but not disparate ways of reporting the same perceived reality. But even if we admitted minor discrepancies in detail a witness is not discredited for that, especially if his testimony is largely corroborated by others.
So how shall we credit these witnesses? Persons win our trust by the beauty of their character. When all we have is their writings (and that is all we have) then we must try to perceive the spirit and the purpose of the writer in his message. If we detect a spirit of humility and integrity and sobriety and a purpose of love and truth then we will give credence to the author. If we detect a conniving, duplicitous, self-seeking attitude, we will tend to discredit what he said."
1 Corithians 15:3-8
"3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me."
I am also reminded that the apostles had thought with the death of Christ all hope was lost, they scattered scared and hid because the "hope" they had was lost.
LUKE 24:21
"But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened."
I believe and trust that my savior lived and died and conquered death. So that my life is not living to die, but living to live.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.
(Joshua 10:12-13 ESV)
I watched the moon last night and was praying. I know it did not stand still because I saw it move with the rotation of the Earth.
Watching the moon reminded me of this passage. Time is the motion of light. Age is the length of life. There is one moment in history when one can not mesure one by the other and Joshua lived in it.
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.
(Joshua 10:12-13 ESV)
I watched the moon last night and was praying. I know it did not stand still because I saw it move with the rotation of the Earth.
Watching the moon reminded me of this passage. Time is the motion of light. Age is the length of life. There is one moment in history when one can not mesure one by the other and Joshua lived in it.
Monday, April 2, 2012
I thought about planting a flower today. I don't have the patience to water and take proper care for a flower. So I opted out and instead downloaded a picture of a flower so I can pretend that I planted it.
I read a comic that my sister wrote and I think I am just now understanding the punch line. "I don't like popcorn" I get it now, the little guy ate to much.
A Psalm of David I read this morning.
O God, save me by your name,
and vindicate me by your might.
O God, hear my prayer;
give ear to the words of my mouth.
For strangers have risen against me;
ruthless men seek my life;
they do not set God before themselves. Selah
Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of my life.
He will return the evil to my enemies;
in your faithfulness put an end to them.
With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.
For he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
(Psalm 54 ESV)
LORD I choose to sacrifice to you.
I read a comic that my sister wrote and I think I am just now understanding the punch line. "I don't like popcorn" I get it now, the little guy ate to much.
A Psalm of David I read this morning.
O God, save me by your name,
and vindicate me by your might.
O God, hear my prayer;
give ear to the words of my mouth.
For strangers have risen against me;
ruthless men seek my life;
they do not set God before themselves. Selah
Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of my life.
He will return the evil to my enemies;
in your faithfulness put an end to them.
With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.
For he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
(Psalm 54 ESV)
LORD I choose to sacrifice to you.
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