Astonished at Jesus

How have you been astonished by Jesus lately?  This idea grabbed my attention this morning as I was reading Matthew 7.  Jesus finishes teaching His Sermon on the Mount, and it says in v.28 that the "crowds were astonished" (v.29 because of the authority He spoke with).  My prayer this morning was asking Jesus to astonish me this week and open my eyes to the evidences of His grace all around me.  I want to have a greater awe and amazement at the authority Jesus has in my life and over everything.  -And, I want to treasure Him even more because of it.

How have you been astonished by Jesus lately?

Do you tremble at God's Word?

In Isaiah 66 God describes the heart He wants.  The chapter begins with the Lord explaining why He has no need for us, but then, inspite of that, quickly shifts (in verse 2) to describe the type of person He is seeking after.  It says He wants a humble and contrite heart, and someone who trembles at His word.  I think we can picture what a humble heart looks like, but what does it mean to tremble at His word?  What does that look like in your life?

Discussion question of the day

There often seems to be a disconnect between what Christians would say the Bible is and how we actually use it in real life.  I mean, if we believe Scripture is the word of God, and that it's sufficient and applicable for everday living, then why don't we run to it often enough or use it to it's fullest for every situation we face in life?

What do you think?

Fullness of joy found in God

So many of us look for happiness and pleasure in things other than Christ.  Often times (even subconsciencly) we say I need Christ and...  This is a good indicator of some of the idols that may be in our life.  I read a great quote by John Calvin this morning that is a good reminder that the greatest joy is found in God alone.  He says, "If God contains the fullness of all good things in himself like an inexhaustible fountain, nothing beyond him is to be sought by those who strike after the highest good and all the elements of happiness". -John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion.  You won't find fullness of joy outside of treasuring Christ more than anything else!

Godly Relationships

I was given a list of relationship questions last week that was very convicting to read though.  If you read the Second Mile pastor's blog this week then you've seen them listed out over there also.  It's a great list to help you evaluate the Godly relationships in your life.  I've got a couple great Christian brothers that I meet with on Friday mornings that I can be open with, pray alongside, and do ministry together with.  I am so thankful for these men, and I am excited for us to be much more intentional about being the answer to these questions for each other this year.

Psalm 19

Some quick thoughts from my time in Psalm 19 this morning.  In verses 7-11 the Psalmist talks about how great the Mosaic Law is (more desired than gold, sweeter than honey), and then goes on to write out his response to this law in verses 12-14.  The humble way in which he responds is completely opposite of how the Pharisees responded to this same law they so loved.  The Psalmist asks for God's help, and desires to please his Lord.  The Pharisee doesn't think he needs God's help, and uses the law as a means to fuel his own pride.  I thought it interesting to see this contrast - one loves the law, the other loves the lawgiver.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!  I had such a great 2009, and am really looking forward to 2010.  Which, by the way, I'm wondering how we're supposed to say it... is it "twenty-ten" or "two thousand ten"??

The past month, despite the holiday busyness, has actually felt like things slowed down a bit.  My Surge leadership training and community group both came to an end at the beginning of December, and I noticed much more "down time" because of it.  It was a great month to spend time with my family.  I love watching my kids grow up.  They are becoming so much fun, both individually and collectively.  Jack has developed a great sense of humor and always seems to know the right times to make us laugh.  Emma, is now talking all the time.  She is a daddy's-girl and always wants to be in my arms (I don't mind at all).  James is starting to crawl and now can't sit still for the life of him.  I've really enjoyed spending time with him lately.  He has the biggest and best smile.  The other two kids enjoy trying to make him smile whenever they can.  With the extra time at home, Lindsay and I have had a bunch of fun rearranging our house around.  All of the kids now sleep in the same room, and the other room became a play room.  This setup will be much better for hosting, and for the nights we have the community group over.  Our new community group will be starting up in a couple weeks and I'm really excited about this new group.  There are a few familiar faces that will be joining us again for the spring, but many of the people that have signed up for the group I have yet to meet.  I'm always so encouraged by the people that God brings into our group.  We've always had such wonderful community groups over the past year, and I'm most excited about the upcoming one!

I love the holidays.  The time from Thanksgiving to New Year is always the best part of the year in my opinion.  So I'm sad that it's over for this year.  2010 should be another great year though, and we're excited to see what God has in store for us.

Been awhile

It's been awile since I've added anything (or even visted) the blog.  I'm going to attempt updating this more frequently.  I am actually testing out this blog entry from my phone, which will make it easier to update in the future.  That's all for now, I'm out...

We no longer live for ourselves

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 is a good reminder that we have been given new life because Jesus died for us.  Therefore, our lives should be lived for Him.  The love of Christ should influence the way we live.  Who are you living for?

Jesus, you died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the One who died for them and was raised again.

Praising God completes our joy in Him

I've been reading the book Desiring God by John Piper the past couple weeks and find myself so encouraged to express my delight in the Lord every time I read it.  Here's an excellent quote to chew on this week:

"So if God loves us enough to make our joy full, He must not only give us Himself; He must also win from us the praise of our hearts -not because He needs to shore up some weakness in Himself or compensate for some deficiency, but because He loves us and seeks the fullness of our joy that can be found only in knowing and praising Him, the most magnificent of all Beings.  If He is truly for us, He must be for Himself!" p.49, John Piper, Desiring God.

Exciting season of life

God has got me excited about several things that begin this month.  This coming Sunday we begin our study of the book of Colossians.  I am eager to grow in my understanding of who Jesus is from Paul's letter to the Colossians, and I'm praying God shows me ways to apply these truths to my life.  Also kicking off next week is the fall community groups at Second Mile Church.  I eager to be involved with a community of people that are committed to growing in the Lord, building relationships with one another, and blessing others.  I look forward to seeing how God will work in our group this fall.  On top of those things, I am also excited about a new prayer ministry at church, the Surge ministry passages I'm studying, and the possibility of a weekly breakfast with the men in my small group.  This fall should be a great season, and I'm excited to watch God work in mighty ways!

Repentance not motivated by our own agenda

So this morning I typed out a fairly lengthy blog post on genuine repentance (motivated only by our love for God, not ourselves or others). Then after re-reading it I decided it was probably more confusing than helpful, and probably much longer than it needed to be. So I deleted it and decided to just write a brief encouragement for us to examine the motives of our hearts in repentance. Make sure that your sorrow over sin is rooted in the fact that it was against God. Sometimes our own idols or pride will cause us to be frustrated by sin, which isn't good unless it leads us to be frustrated that we sinned against our heavenly father. That's all I was trying to say.

Funny video clip

My sister sent me this video from The Colbert Report.  It's hilarious.  If you have a few minutes watch as Stephen Colbert and Tom Hanks fill care packages for the troops.  It starts at about the 20 second mark.

Tom Hanks Care Package

www.colbertnation.com

Reading and Riding

Yesterday I combined two activities I love and made them even better.  I love to read and love to exercise.  Yesterday morning I spent 30 minutes at the gym on the recumbent bike reading Piper's Desiring God book.  It definitely made the time on the bike go much faster, but it also seemed to help me focus and better retain what I was reading.  My mom and sisters have always told me that studying or memorizing is much easier when attaching it with some sort of physical activity.  I haven't tried that enough to know if it's true, but I do know that this was really enjoyable.  Plus, maybe somebody at the gym will ask me about what I'm reading someday.

Glorifying God by enjoying Him

Yesterday morning I was up earlier than normal before church, so I spent some time reading the book "Desiring God" by John Piper.  I love the way Piper always brings me back to delighting in God for no other reason but the beauty of Himself.  Early in the book he makes this comment, "...it is unbiblical and arrogant to try to worship God for any other reason than the pleasure to be had in Him".  So often I think I can get caught up in praising God for the benefits or blessings I find in Him, and fail to delight in God Himself.  This prepared my heart perfectly for corporate worship at church yesterday.  I couldn't help but be overjoyed by the beauty of God as I praised Him for who He is (and I think He was more glorified because of it).

Cast your cares on Him

I've been so encouraged by the Psalms this week.  Peace and rest from difficulties can be found by giving them over to God.  I love in Psalm 3 where it says that God is "the lifter of my head". Trust in God with the stresses of life.  He will offer relief.  The Lord is our protector, our provider, our comfort.

Our significance is found in the God we were created by/for

Our hope, purpose, significance, worth, and joy in life is in the salvation we have been given -the rescuing from sin and death, and the personal, intimate relationship we have with the one true God -to know Him and make Him known.  That's where we find value.

I got an email newsletter this week from a personal trainer friend who was trying to motivate and encourage people by telling us how "special" and "unique" we are.  He claims we are made up of the energy and matter of stars that no longer shine anymore.  He did a good job trying to encourage people that life is special and we should value it and live in a way that reflects the specialness.  But I couldn't help feeling sorry for him and anyone that reads it hoping to find worth or purpose in these shallow motivating words.  For I know my true worth and my true calling in life, to worship the God who not only gave me physical life but everlasting spiritual life as well. 

I definitely agree on one thing this guy said: knowing your significance and purpose should change the way you live, the way you view yourself, the way you view life.

God is satisfyingly beautiful!

Are you captivated by God's beauty?  Adoration is the topic of our study in prayer this week, so this is something I've been focusing on the past few days.  God is so satisfyingly beautiful, and yet most of us (myself included) don't spend much time adoring Him for who He is.  We often view His goodness and love as something that strengthens us or grows us, but we don't usually delight in God's goodness or love as an end in itself.  I can't say this any better than Tim Keller does:

"A primary mark of real Christian experience is that you come to love God for the shining, satisfying magnificence of who he is in himself, and not how he benefits you.  To religious people, God is useful.  To Christians, God is beautiful." -Tim Keller, Prayer.

Is God seen as useful or altogether beautiful to you?  Lets adore Him, asking for nothing but God Himself!

God, help our unbelief!

I've been both encouraged and convicted by Acts 12 this week.  It's amazing how God moves in miraculous ways time and time again, and yet deep down we have our doubts that he can or will do it again.  I want to encourage you with some of my thoughts from this chapter.

Here's the background.  The early church is facing persecution.  We saw Stephen stoned to death by the people just a few chapters earlier.  Now Herod is violently going after the Christians as well.  He kills James and saw how much it pleased the jews, so he goes out and captures Peter with the intention to do the same.

Verse 5 says that Peter is in prison but the church was praying earnestly for him.  These Christians know what's going on, they know that death is inevitable for Peter, so what does this prayer look like?  I imagine, with the hopelessness of the situation, that they are praying for God to move in a powerful way.

God hears their prayers and rescues Peter in a miraculous way.  Peter realizing what God has done quickly goes to tell the others.  The church is still gathered together in the middle of the night praying for Peter when he arrives outside.  The servant girl, seeing Peter, runs inside to tell the rest.  What is their response??  Excitement?  Praise to God?  NO!  Not at all.  They rebuke her!  They tell her she is crazy.  Verse 15 says that she kept insisting that it was Peter outside, and they kept insisting it was not.  They laugh at the thought Peter could be outside, they even criticize the girl for thinking so.

When Peter finally comes inside, verse 16 says "they saw him and were amazed".  Didn't these Christians spend the past several hours in fervent prayer asking God to move in a mighty way to save Peter?  And yet, in their heart of hearts they doubted God would actually do anything.  If Jesus were still there He would have surely rebuked them for their lack of faith.

How many of my prayers are just like this?  Where I pray so earnestly for something or someone, and yet deep down I have doubts that God will actually respond.  Or, worse yet, how many times do I not even pray for something miraculous because I don't think it will happen?  This lack of faith is sin.  We need to fully trust that God can, and often will, move in mighty ways to accomplish His purposes.
 

Tough week last week

So last week was just overwhelmingly busy.  I confess I was feeling the stress of life overtake me.  It seemed like every day presented a whole new batch of things that I had to deal with.  On top of that, the first part of the week was spiritually dry because I did not make time (nor even desire) to be in God's Word or prayer -which set the tone for most of the week.  However, as always, God doesn't allow me to remain in that state.  He always draws me back to the Scriptures and in turn fills me with joy in Himself.  The past several days, which have been immersed in prayer and meditation on the Psalms, have been so wonderful.  I love how much better life is when our focus is on Christ and not ourselves.  Anyway, I say all that in order to confess my weakness in trying to tackle life on my own, and to hopefully be an encouragement on the value and sweetness of delighting in God through His Word.  Just as Matthew preached yesterday, fullness of joy will never come from our circumstance, but can always be found in the presence of the Lord.

Pray hard, then work hard

"Pray as if everything depends on God, then work as if everything depends on you." -Martin Luther

Joy in the Lord

A couple weeks ago I blogged about how much I was loving Nehemiah chapter 9.  It was neat to see how God used Ezra's prayer as an encouragement and model for my praying time.  In a similar way, this past week God has been using the book of Habakkuk to encourage my heart and allow me to encourage several others through it as well.  I love Habakkuk's prayer in chapter 3, especially how he concludes it:

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." Habakkuk 3:17-19, my emphasis added.

Habakkuk learns to trust in God's sovereignty (and not his own plans).  This trust allows him to be able to rejoice in the midst of great difficulty.  Habakkuk's joy is in the Lord, not in circumstances.  Is yours?

Update the blog

Haven't added anything to the blog in a week.  Wow, I didn't even realize it had been a week.  Life has been busy busy.  It seems like every day there is something I want to blog about, and yet I struggle to find the time to sit and write it down.  Then a week goes by and I often don't remember what I wanted to share.  Oh well, I guess that means it couldn't have been that important eh? [Eh? I have no idea why I've started using the word "eh?" in my online correspondence (it creeped up into several of my emails this week).  Where it came from I have no idea, I just started using it this week.  Hopefully it doesn't make it's way into my everyday vocabulary.  It's bad enough that I often say "huh?" and now my 2-year old replies with "huh?" every time you say something to him.  Oh dear].  Anyway, all that to say, that I do have a few things that I would like to add to the blog and am hoping to do that today.  Stick around...

Do you HATE your sin?

How often do we view our sin in a casual way?  I've been listening to a John Piper sermon where he exhorts us to make war with our sin.  Sin is not something we should live with peacefully.  We need to be in all-out war against the idols in our heart.  Piper also comments on how we view spiritual warfare as a battle with satan, when in reality we need to be more concerned with our sin than with satan.  The only foothold satan has in our lives is our sin.  Piper says, "nobody goes to hell because of satan.  The only reason we go to hell is because of sin".  Our biggest enemy is not satan, it's sin!  Do you view your sin as the enemy??  We cannot settle in with our sin.  We cannot casually negotiate with our sin.  We need to make war 24 hours a day, 7 days a week against our flesh!

Prayer types simplified

"When our children were small and we were trying to teach them to pray, we had three kinds of prayer: 'Please prayers,' 'Thank you prayers,' and 'Sorry prayers.'" -Stuart Briscoe