Well Jesus order my day order my weekend
Friday, April 17, 2009
Sitting here waiting for Stephnette and Tam to get here to head to Retreat. Wondering what the Lord has for me this year at the Ladies Retreat. Will I be reproved, will I be exhorted, will I be encouraged, will I get to be a blessing, will I be blessed. Seems to me I'm a bit overly obsessed with "WILL I" - good grief I"m not even out the door yet and I'm corrected.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Duties of a Shephard
I recieved this via email from a dear friend and new it was worth a blog post.
Dear Friends,Many months ago in our Sunday school class, a question arose: What are the duties of a shepherd? Most of the adults quickly flipped to favorite passages concerning shepherds; a slapdash discussion ensued both as to why the shepherd does what he does, as well as to the application of each of the shepherd's duties in our lives today.Both because we have previously owned sheep and because the discussion seemed to be heading down a somewhat predictable path, my mind ambled merrily away on its own. But instead of wandering toward thoughts of lunch and my Sunday afternoon novel, that day my mind stayed somewhat on topic as I considered what the ultimate duty of a shepherd is. Why does he work so hard to feed, water, shelter, and protect? In many cases, his goal is not merely to keep the sheep safe and contented; it is to prepare them to die.We do our church and families a disservice when we end the discussion of a shepherd's duties at his kindly provisions, with no mention of this additional objective. Much of what the shepherd does is in the end focused on a sheep being fully prepared to die. How much richer will our experience be, in those moments that we feel called by God to shepherd another, if we see beyond the temporal need for protection or nourishment and seize each occasion as an opportunity to prepare that child or adult for death, for eternity. If each moment of every day were considered in terms of how it is preparing us for eternity, instead of what fleeting pleasure it will allow us, would we use our time differently?Jesus is not only our Good Shepherd; He was also the sacrificial Lamb. He knew, like we will never know, how to live in such a way that when death came He was wholly ready. This week, as we prepare to celebrate the wonder of what He did for us, we also look forward to the day when we will be united with the One who has lovingly shepherded us to the end.
Dear Friends,Many months ago in our Sunday school class, a question arose: What are the duties of a shepherd? Most of the adults quickly flipped to favorite passages concerning shepherds; a slapdash discussion ensued both as to why the shepherd does what he does, as well as to the application of each of the shepherd's duties in our lives today.Both because we have previously owned sheep and because the discussion seemed to be heading down a somewhat predictable path, my mind ambled merrily away on its own. But instead of wandering toward thoughts of lunch and my Sunday afternoon novel, that day my mind stayed somewhat on topic as I considered what the ultimate duty of a shepherd is. Why does he work so hard to feed, water, shelter, and protect? In many cases, his goal is not merely to keep the sheep safe and contented; it is to prepare them to die.We do our church and families a disservice when we end the discussion of a shepherd's duties at his kindly provisions, with no mention of this additional objective. Much of what the shepherd does is in the end focused on a sheep being fully prepared to die. How much richer will our experience be, in those moments that we feel called by God to shepherd another, if we see beyond the temporal need for protection or nourishment and seize each occasion as an opportunity to prepare that child or adult for death, for eternity. If each moment of every day were considered in terms of how it is preparing us for eternity, instead of what fleeting pleasure it will allow us, would we use our time differently?Jesus is not only our Good Shepherd; He was also the sacrificial Lamb. He knew, like we will never know, how to live in such a way that when death came He was wholly ready. This week, as we prepare to celebrate the wonder of what He did for us, we also look forward to the day when we will be united with the One who has lovingly shepherded us to the end.
His is risen indeed!
- All of us at Timberdoodle Co
Monday, April 6, 2009
What's in your hand?
I was originally going to post this application from Exodus Chapter 3. Then I got focused elsewhere and never did it. So yesterday Pastor Bob was teaching in Matthew about the donkey and swung it around to this very thing I had as my application a few weeks back with Exodus Chapter 4. I knew God was speaking to me, how faithful He is to give me another chance to not "disregard His Word". Shareing always seems to help me be accountable.
Exodus 4 1-9
1 Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.' " 2 So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." 3 And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), 5 "that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." 6 Furthermore the LORD said to him, "Now put your hand in your bosom." And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. 7 And He said, "Put your hand in your bosom again." So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh. 8 "Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign. 9 "And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. And the water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land."
vs. 2 God is asking what is in your hand Moses? now am I to seriously believe that God didn't know what was in Moses hand - no way! of course he knew so why the question.
GOD CAN DO GREAT THINGS WITH WHATEVER WE HAVE IN OUR HAND. Whatever you have in your hand, however small it might be, if you will let go of it and give it to God, He can do great things with it. He wants total surrender of everything. I love how at this point Moses rod becomes God's rod. Giving God that "thing" allows God to use it greatly for His use. In asking that question one would think, 'o it must be something grand in his hand' no it's a stick! and the God of the Universe says that will do. And look at all the great miracles God did through that rod. So I ask you , I ask myself: What is in your hand? A rod? A jar of oil? A sling? A few loaves and some fish? ..... A child? A car? an extra room in your house? The ability to mow a lawn? To cook? A mind that is super organized? The love of housecleaning? A singing voice? Time on a Sunday morning to serve holding babies? 1 hour a week to bend your knee in prayer? What is in your hand?! What do you claim as yours but God wants to use it and make it His?
I read this this true story that really brings this home.
There was a little church in South Africa. The pastor challenged the people to just take what they had and to try to do something with it for world missions to raise funds to help reach the world for Christ. All one lady in the church had was a recipe. She knew how to make rusks. So she started making her rusks and selling them to some of the neighbors. Word got out that they were really good. She started having to bake more and more and more, and she sold them and collected that money for missions. It became a small business. Today you can buy those Ouma Rusks on different continents of the world, and they are amazing. I’m sure by this date millions of dollars have been poured into the gospel. It all came because somebody said, “Well, God, here is a recipe.” What is in your hand? Do not underestimate what might happen with it if you give it to God.
Exodus 4 1-9
1 Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.' " 2 So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." 3 And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), 5 "that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." 6 Furthermore the LORD said to him, "Now put your hand in your bosom." And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. 7 And He said, "Put your hand in your bosom again." So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh. 8 "Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign. 9 "And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. And the water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land."
vs. 2 God is asking what is in your hand Moses? now am I to seriously believe that God didn't know what was in Moses hand - no way! of course he knew so why the question.
GOD CAN DO GREAT THINGS WITH WHATEVER WE HAVE IN OUR HAND. Whatever you have in your hand, however small it might be, if you will let go of it and give it to God, He can do great things with it. He wants total surrender of everything. I love how at this point Moses rod becomes God's rod. Giving God that "thing" allows God to use it greatly for His use. In asking that question one would think, 'o it must be something grand in his hand' no it's a stick! and the God of the Universe says that will do. And look at all the great miracles God did through that rod. So I ask you , I ask myself: What is in your hand? A rod? A jar of oil? A sling? A few loaves and some fish? ..... A child? A car? an extra room in your house? The ability to mow a lawn? To cook? A mind that is super organized? The love of housecleaning? A singing voice? Time on a Sunday morning to serve holding babies? 1 hour a week to bend your knee in prayer? What is in your hand?! What do you claim as yours but God wants to use it and make it His?
I read this this true story that really brings this home.
There was a little church in South Africa. The pastor challenged the people to just take what they had and to try to do something with it for world missions to raise funds to help reach the world for Christ. All one lady in the church had was a recipe. She knew how to make rusks. So she started making her rusks and selling them to some of the neighbors. Word got out that they were really good. She started having to bake more and more and more, and she sold them and collected that money for missions. It became a small business. Today you can buy those Ouma Rusks on different continents of the world, and they are amazing. I’m sure by this date millions of dollars have been poured into the gospel. It all came because somebody said, “Well, God, here is a recipe.” What is in your hand? Do not underestimate what might happen with it if you give it to God.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Disregard for the Word of God
Exodus 5:1-15
1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.' " 2 And Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go." 3 So they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days' journey into the desert and sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword." 4 Then the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your labor." 5 And Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!" 6 So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, 7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 "And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' 9 "Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words."
Observation/Application
Vs.9 let them not regard false words.
Pharaoh is so arrogant he is clearly showing his negative evaluation of the Word of God. Much like today we see that this is all to common. People put themselves in a place of high superiority and disclaim the Word of God all the time. Geez we even make laws that support the lifestyle of daily disregard of the Word of God. I had to stop and think about this more personal and close to home. Do we as a born again christian society, as Leaders in in a church body, do I? Of course we would hastily say no way~ but what about our actions? What about my actions, my life. What would others say of me? What do we think and say of each other? I think about how many times I've listened to a great message. And for me this is all the time as I am greatly blessed to be apart of a church with an exceptional anointed Pastor who is clearly called to teach the Word of God. I listen and am moved to action while listening but how often I have walked away and done nothing with it. Humbly I admit it happens. This is not not a comfortable thought process if we are honest with ourselves. Even as I sit here and write this I feel uncomfortable and slightly irritated wanting to give excuses. So I ask myself what is the root issue here because I could sit here on this and write for hours but really what is going on? How can it be that we as "solid Christian believers" live in a manner like this and have even allowed "THEM" to turn our Country away from God's Word?
Lack of Fear of God .
and we wonder why God is putting His judgment on our Nation, our stability.
1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.' " 2 And Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go." 3 So they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days' journey into the desert and sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword." 4 Then the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your labor." 5 And Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!" 6 So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, 7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 "And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' 9 "Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words."
Observation/Application
Vs.9 let them not regard false words.
Pharaoh is so arrogant he is clearly showing his negative evaluation of the Word of God. Much like today we see that this is all to common. People put themselves in a place of high superiority and disclaim the Word of God all the time. Geez we even make laws that support the lifestyle of daily disregard of the Word of God. I had to stop and think about this more personal and close to home. Do we as a born again christian society, as Leaders in in a church body, do I? Of course we would hastily say no way~ but what about our actions? What about my actions, my life. What would others say of me? What do we think and say of each other? I think about how many times I've listened to a great message. And for me this is all the time as I am greatly blessed to be apart of a church with an exceptional anointed Pastor who is clearly called to teach the Word of God. I listen and am moved to action while listening but how often I have walked away and done nothing with it. Humbly I admit it happens. This is not not a comfortable thought process if we are honest with ourselves. Even as I sit here and write this I feel uncomfortable and slightly irritated wanting to give excuses. So I ask myself what is the root issue here because I could sit here on this and write for hours but really what is going on? How can it be that we as "solid Christian believers" live in a manner like this and have even allowed "THEM" to turn our Country away from God's Word?
Lack of Fear of God .
and we wonder why God is putting His judgment on our Nation, our stability.
2 Chron 7:14
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
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