For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 14:11
In 1 Kings 21 Ahab stayed off disaster because he humbled himself before the Lord. In 2 Chronicles 12 Rehoboam and all the leaders of Israel humble themselves before the Lord and 2 Chronicles 12:7 says When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.
I don't know about you but I am starting to see a pattern. Seems to me those who are willing to... by choice... eat a big piece of humble pie will avoid being destroyed by the Lord! I think out of the two options you have here the choice is pretty simple. Humble yourself and be saved or keep your pride and arrogance and be destroyed. So why is it there are so many people still holding on to their prideful, arrogant ways? Do you feel like you are so good at your job that you don't need God to guide you? Do you feel like you have to be hanging out with the most popular/important people to really be successful in life? Repeatedly in the scripture God honors the humble and brings the haughty low (2 Samuel 22:28, Isaiah 5:15, Matthew 23:12).
So I pray I do not think too highly of myself. I pray I do not worry with my place among the men and women of this world and only worry about my place with the Lord. I pray I remember I am but a servant.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Just for fun!
Thought some of you might enjoy seeing some of the graphic work I have been working on lately. Love to hear your comments so please type away!!
This one is for an upcoming Concert of Prayer at our church.
This one was for a large outdoor baptism event we had.
This one is for an upcoming Concert of Prayer at our church.
This one was for a large outdoor baptism event we had.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
It's A Miracle!
Luke 5: 1-11
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
I love that Simon Peter is there as Jesus is speaking to such a crowd that he had to climb into a boat and push out from the shore and yet it takes a miracle of boat loads of fish for Simon Peter to realize that he is a sinful man and in the presence of the Lord. Can you imagine just hearing Jesus speaking and not being so moved to realize your sin much less realize you are in the presence of Christ Jesus?
So if Simon Peter took a miracle to come to Christ even though he was already in the presence of the Lord... what is it going to take for you? Do you go to church week after week, yet you haven't laid it all down and made the decision to follow Christ? What miracle are you looking for? Maybe you are just too close to see it?
Christ is still performing miracles that will blow your mind if you just open your eyes to see them. Far more explosive then a boat full of fish. What miracles you ask? Take a look around. There are miracles every time we take a breath, every time we catch a glimpse of a beautiful sunset, every time we take a step. Too small for you? What about every time a soldier comes home from war, what about every time a premature baby grows up into an obnoxious teenager, what about every time the doctor says the cancer is in remission.
Maybe you aren't seeing the miracles because you are too close. Maybe you should push out from the shore and take it all in and look at it from a different point of view. Jesus is still performing great miracles. Do you see them? Will you leave everything and follow Him?
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
I love that Simon Peter is there as Jesus is speaking to such a crowd that he had to climb into a boat and push out from the shore and yet it takes a miracle of boat loads of fish for Simon Peter to realize that he is a sinful man and in the presence of the Lord. Can you imagine just hearing Jesus speaking and not being so moved to realize your sin much less realize you are in the presence of Christ Jesus?
So if Simon Peter took a miracle to come to Christ even though he was already in the presence of the Lord... what is it going to take for you? Do you go to church week after week, yet you haven't laid it all down and made the decision to follow Christ? What miracle are you looking for? Maybe you are just too close to see it?
Christ is still performing miracles that will blow your mind if you just open your eyes to see them. Far more explosive then a boat full of fish. What miracles you ask? Take a look around. There are miracles every time we take a breath, every time we catch a glimpse of a beautiful sunset, every time we take a step. Too small for you? What about every time a soldier comes home from war, what about every time a premature baby grows up into an obnoxious teenager, what about every time the doctor says the cancer is in remission.
Maybe you aren't seeing the miracles because you are too close. Maybe you should push out from the shore and take it all in and look at it from a different point of view. Jesus is still performing great miracles. Do you see them? Will you leave everything and follow Him?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Tomorrow's Troubles
Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Do not worry about tomorrow! Is it just me or is that easier said than done most of the time? We are going through so much these days with financial, career, family, and many more different types of pressures. Tell me... is there one person out there that truly doesn't have something they could be worrying about?
The Lord says to not worry about tomorrow. I'm all for that! Really... who wants to worry about tomorrow? Today is hard enough and has, as the Lord says, enough trouble of its own. Do you really want to add another day's worth of trouble to your existing worries? I don't.
We just recently had a funeral at the church for a young mom. It was a very sad day for that family. What I realize every time we have a funeral at that church is we do not know how many days we have here on this earth. Only the Lord knows. So who am I to fill my days with worry about days I am not sure are mine to worry about.
I want to live this life the Lord has given me to the fullest. I want to love and serve Him. I want to love and care for my family. Those are the things that matter. So what about those worries that fill my day? I will give those to the Lord and certainly not worry about tomorrow's worries. After all, they may not belong to me at all.
Do not worry about tomorrow! Is it just me or is that easier said than done most of the time? We are going through so much these days with financial, career, family, and many more different types of pressures. Tell me... is there one person out there that truly doesn't have something they could be worrying about?
The Lord says to not worry about tomorrow. I'm all for that! Really... who wants to worry about tomorrow? Today is hard enough and has, as the Lord says, enough trouble of its own. Do you really want to add another day's worth of trouble to your existing worries? I don't.
We just recently had a funeral at the church for a young mom. It was a very sad day for that family. What I realize every time we have a funeral at that church is we do not know how many days we have here on this earth. Only the Lord knows. So who am I to fill my days with worry about days I am not sure are mine to worry about.
I want to live this life the Lord has given me to the fullest. I want to love and serve Him. I want to love and care for my family. Those are the things that matter. So what about those worries that fill my day? I will give those to the Lord and certainly not worry about tomorrow's worries. After all, they may not belong to me at all.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Labor Day
Exodus 34:21 “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.
Rest... Huh. I'm going to have to admit that I am not very good at this one. Well, at least not until I have run myself ragged and then fall over exhausted. Then I rest. I know I am not alone in this one!
A good friend gave me a book to read not too long ago. It is on this very subject. I was told it would be an easy read and that it really would be helpful. Frankly, it hasn't been a very easy read for me. Throughout the book I have learned things about myself that I really didn't care to know. They have been a little painful in fact.
I learned that I push myself to the point of exhaustion because I feel like I have a need to prove myself because I do not have a college degree.
I learned that I push myself because I feel like I am indispensable. I thought the work couldn't not be done without me.
I learned that I push myself because I am avoiding dealing with things that are difficult in my life.
Wow... I hope you didn't mind the honesty!
The book I am reading is Leading On Empty by Wayne Cordeiro. The best thing I learned from the book....
When we rest, we learn that God can go on and do His work without us... we learn that if you take the time to deal with personal issues in your life, your work for the Lord is much more effective... we learn that the Lord can use anyone, even those who do not have extensive higher education. The books says it this way... We return with a humble heart.
I know now that I always want to approach the Lord's work with a humble heart. Even if you are not working in the ministry, this applies to you too. Remember that Lord is the one who has gifted you with the abilities to do your job. Take the day of rest He has commanded and return rest, reinvigorated and most of all humble and you can do great things in the name of the Lord.
Rest... Huh. I'm going to have to admit that I am not very good at this one. Well, at least not until I have run myself ragged and then fall over exhausted. Then I rest. I know I am not alone in this one!
A good friend gave me a book to read not too long ago. It is on this very subject. I was told it would be an easy read and that it really would be helpful. Frankly, it hasn't been a very easy read for me. Throughout the book I have learned things about myself that I really didn't care to know. They have been a little painful in fact.
I learned that I push myself to the point of exhaustion because I feel like I have a need to prove myself because I do not have a college degree.
I learned that I push myself because I feel like I am indispensable. I thought the work couldn't not be done without me.
I learned that I push myself because I am avoiding dealing with things that are difficult in my life.
Wow... I hope you didn't mind the honesty!
The book I am reading is Leading On Empty by Wayne Cordeiro. The best thing I learned from the book....
When we rest, we learn that God can go on and do His work without us... we learn that if you take the time to deal with personal issues in your life, your work for the Lord is much more effective... we learn that the Lord can use anyone, even those who do not have extensive higher education. The books says it this way... We return with a humble heart.
I know now that I always want to approach the Lord's work with a humble heart. Even if you are not working in the ministry, this applies to you too. Remember that Lord is the one who has gifted you with the abilities to do your job. Take the day of rest He has commanded and return rest, reinvigorated and most of all humble and you can do great things in the name of the Lord.
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