Yesterday the sun was shinning and the wind was calm and life was of paradise quality in Gold Beach. The rain that was forcasted for last Sunday never materialized and the fisherman were happy. Them this morning the sleepy little fishing village awoke to the peace and quite of a very low cloud laying down a warm blanket of precipitation on every thing in sight. Beautiful, unless you had plans outside . Now its a storm.
When was your last storm? And what was it that made you call it a storm? Was it a rainy day in June , a snowy day in November or the flat tire on the way to that job interview you were so waiting for. Did the river overflow from the rain upstate, or did you come home to find out that you had a bill go to court for collection.
From the perspective of the participant, all of these events are considered storms. A storm is an unexpected event that causes unexpected results that force a change in the status quo. And we ain't always just talking the weather. No matter how well one may think one has it all figured out, change happens. Weather, health, finances, plans, they all change and most often without notice.
But great news. Everyday is change but everyday is as God has ordained them to be. For Him there are no surprises. There are now unexpected factors. Why else would Christ tell us to trust Him? Walk with the guy with the biggest umbrella and you stay a whole lot dryer. And if the umbrella carrier has a flashlight as well, then you are good to go day or night.
Well, God has all the tools and they are listed in the Bible. He tells us to not lean unto our own understanding but to lay our burdens at His feet and H will take care of them. It will mean that you will be growing up in some area of your life. Growth is good but not always as easy as we would like but more rewarding then we realize. Remember how as children we couldn't wait to grow-up but when it comes time to we kick and scream and cry foul. The last storm taught me how to tie my deck chairs down rather then extract them from the neighbor's yard.
This storm gave our little village (and about 70 miles of the coast) a nice soothing watering which helps to maintain the green beauty of Southern Oregon and shows us how God has it all figured out. He's driving and everyone is welcome aboard.
FullyRelyingOnGod
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
God Looks at the Heart
Looking out over the neighbors below I can see the Pacific ocean about 1000 yards away. Ever moving and ever changing. Both the ocean and the view. On some occasions the Lord brings the world even closer. As I was talking to my son in Kentucky this morning, a osprey flew by my window with a fish in his talons. Obviously flying back to the nest to feed a young one. Neat thing about the way the osprey carry a fish when they are flying. They align the fish head forward so as to minimize drag. It allows them to carry fish often heavier then they are. His Creation is amazing and perfect.
Now when man looks at himself he does not see the way God does. In Proverbs 21:2 we read " Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts". Here we go with the looking without the eyes. God looks at the heart. The real motivation and conviction. Where was the the heart of Peter when he denied Christ?
The same place we all are in our walk with Christ. At a moment of total conflict and fear. I could just hear Peter. I love my Lord and I have pledged my life to Him but does He want me to really not be afraid? They will not talk to me anymore and I won't be able to sell my fish and they might even want kill me. His heart was still given over to Christ but his flesh was still vulnerable to the world. He denied Christ three times. Every time we sin we are denying Christ. We are turning from Him. Peter knew the minute he hear the bird that he had let his Master down. His heart was struck deeply by his be a man. Thats why Jesus came, to let us know that He knows what we are going through and what we can expect from our decisions.
And the good new is that we are already forgiven and we have but to stay focused on Him. As the choices of life come our way we know in our heart what is right and what is of God. Just remember to go for what is of God and not what looks right. Remember our verse? " Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts" Prov 21:2. We are easily deceived but God cannot be. With Him dwelling in your heart there is no room for the world.
And the really awesome thing is that as you read the Bible you realize more and more how full you are with the Presence of God. Every cell of your being is in image of Him. Perfect in design and perfect in forgiveness. Great is the Grace of God. All created so that you to may enjoy God in all His Glory. Eternity is forever.
FullyRelyingOnGod
Now when man looks at himself he does not see the way God does. In Proverbs 21:2 we read " Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts". Here we go with the looking without the eyes. God looks at the heart. The real motivation and conviction. Where was the the heart of Peter when he denied Christ?
The same place we all are in our walk with Christ. At a moment of total conflict and fear. I could just hear Peter. I love my Lord and I have pledged my life to Him but does He want me to really not be afraid? They will not talk to me anymore and I won't be able to sell my fish and they might even want kill me. His heart was still given over to Christ but his flesh was still vulnerable to the world. He denied Christ three times. Every time we sin we are denying Christ. We are turning from Him. Peter knew the minute he hear the bird that he had let his Master down. His heart was struck deeply by his be a man. Thats why Jesus came, to let us know that He knows what we are going through and what we can expect from our decisions.
And the good new is that we are already forgiven and we have but to stay focused on Him. As the choices of life come our way we know in our heart what is right and what is of God. Just remember to go for what is of God and not what looks right. Remember our verse? " Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts" Prov 21:2. We are easily deceived but God cannot be. With Him dwelling in your heart there is no room for the world.
And the really awesome thing is that as you read the Bible you realize more and more how full you are with the Presence of God. Every cell of your being is in image of Him. Perfect in design and perfect in forgiveness. Great is the Grace of God. All created so that you to may enjoy God in all His Glory. Eternity is forever.
FullyRelyingOnGod
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
The Hearing Ear and the Seeing Eye
One of the things that I do as daily as I can, is to read the Proverb of the day. For some reason there are 31 Proverbs. Works out great. Even after all these years, I still get something new and wonderful with each reading.
But I digress. Look in the mirror at your face. Think about what you see. First off we see a face staring back at us. Notice it's design. Eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and for some of us, hair in various locations. Proverbs 20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. God wants us to use our ears and eyes. So much so that he gave us two of them. We have the ability thru our binocular vision to see depth. To determine distance, which is very important when you reach for something. Our hearing also allows us to determine distance as well. Helps to tell which direction the ice cream truck is coming from.
Look at the order the psalmist mentions them. Ears then eyes. Listen then look. Our hearing is harder to fool then our eyes. God spoke to Abraham. God spoke to Noah. God spoke to Jeremiah. Why, because God knows that we are often ruled by our eyes. When God called Moses He used the burning bush to get the attention of Moses. God know that just a disembodied voice was not going to be enough. Moses was educated in the world when he grew up in Egypt and God needed to cut through that thinking to get his attention. The fact that the bush was not consumed by fire definitely got Moses's attention.
After we hear the call of God, His Holy Spirit lets us see Him in all that we observe. How can you look at anything without seeing the wonderment of God? I know that it is difficult at times but when we look for God we will always find Him. He does not hide because He desires that none should perish but that all would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
But what about that mouth on your mug. is that how you will be remembered, as the talker or the listener, always watching and learning? Proverbs 20:12 tells us we are to listen and to observe. And it is from these practices that we will acquire the abilities we need to live in this world. God has given us His Word and in that rests my confidence and through His presence in my life grows my faith. Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
FullyRelyingOnGod
But I digress. Look in the mirror at your face. Think about what you see. First off we see a face staring back at us. Notice it's design. Eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and for some of us, hair in various locations. Proverbs 20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. God wants us to use our ears and eyes. So much so that he gave us two of them. We have the ability thru our binocular vision to see depth. To determine distance, which is very important when you reach for something. Our hearing also allows us to determine distance as well. Helps to tell which direction the ice cream truck is coming from.
Look at the order the psalmist mentions them. Ears then eyes. Listen then look. Our hearing is harder to fool then our eyes. God spoke to Abraham. God spoke to Noah. God spoke to Jeremiah. Why, because God knows that we are often ruled by our eyes. When God called Moses He used the burning bush to get the attention of Moses. God know that just a disembodied voice was not going to be enough. Moses was educated in the world when he grew up in Egypt and God needed to cut through that thinking to get his attention. The fact that the bush was not consumed by fire definitely got Moses's attention.
After we hear the call of God, His Holy Spirit lets us see Him in all that we observe. How can you look at anything without seeing the wonderment of God? I know that it is difficult at times but when we look for God we will always find Him. He does not hide because He desires that none should perish but that all would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
But what about that mouth on your mug. is that how you will be remembered, as the talker or the listener, always watching and learning? Proverbs 20:12 tells us we are to listen and to observe. And it is from these practices that we will acquire the abilities we need to live in this world. God has given us His Word and in that rests my confidence and through His presence in my life grows my faith. Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
FullyRelyingOnGod
Friday, June 15, 2007
Whose Choice....
When the motors start, all three of them, and you begin to feel the sensation of motion, you also begin to question why you are in the boat in the first place. I think it was back when you heard a bunch of people talking about the trip they just took up the Lower Rogue River and you just had to try it. Hey everyone else sure seem to like it. But no, you first checked out for yourself as to the safety of the boats, accident records for the last 20 years, by week, you did your homework. So why the panic? Could it be your still don't trust them?
Tomorrow you have to decide whether you are going to come clean to your boss about who did you know what to the thing in the other room. You know what is right because you can feel what is not. Taking three days makes you look sorta guilty already. The Holy Spirit assists us in applying Christ's principals to our life. As we read and hear and share we learn more of Christ's character which in turn allows us to more easily follow in His footsteps. As we experience His care we become more reliant on Him.
When we make a decision and find our selves still fearful of failure, chances are we need to talk to Christ about it some more. Thats where we will find God the quickest. Trust that map you got from that travel company? Okay. Who created everything? Think then He knows whats going to work best for us? Trust Him.
You have made the toughest decision you will ever make when you accepted Christ as your personal Savior. And you were not alone when you made that decision. God gave you the amount of faith nessecary to make that decision. So, He will give you all the faith you need for any decision when you seek Him in what you are doing.
A rule of thumb that we use working with young people is to tell them that "when in doubt, don't". Talk it over with Christ, your best friend, your pastor. Our Father desires that we live a life that brings Him, praise, honor and glory.
FullyRelyingOnGod
Tomorrow you have to decide whether you are going to come clean to your boss about who did you know what to the thing in the other room. You know what is right because you can feel what is not. Taking three days makes you look sorta guilty already. The Holy Spirit assists us in applying Christ's principals to our life. As we read and hear and share we learn more of Christ's character which in turn allows us to more easily follow in His footsteps. As we experience His care we become more reliant on Him.
When we make a decision and find our selves still fearful of failure, chances are we need to talk to Christ about it some more. Thats where we will find God the quickest. Trust that map you got from that travel company? Okay. Who created everything? Think then He knows whats going to work best for us? Trust Him.
You have made the toughest decision you will ever make when you accepted Christ as your personal Savior. And you were not alone when you made that decision. God gave you the amount of faith nessecary to make that decision. So, He will give you all the faith you need for any decision when you seek Him in what you are doing.
A rule of thumb that we use working with young people is to tell them that "when in doubt, don't". Talk it over with Christ, your best friend, your pastor. Our Father desires that we live a life that brings Him, praise, honor and glory.
FullyRelyingOnGod
Thursday, June 14, 2007
God, Grandchildren and Grounders
Every day is a lesson of expectation. I live in the expectation of hearing from God in a personal way everyday. And the Father is faithful, and has never let me down. But I do have a confession to make. He has never met me where I was expecting Him to be , but He has always met me when I have sought after Him.
One of my grandsons is just a totally bundle of pure energy. Flame on and lets save the world. This last couple of months he has been playing T-ball. And his dad is one of the coaches. How do you harness that much energy long enough to teach them the basics of baseball? How did my son find the inner strength to work with a group of these young firebrands?
It takes a foundation. A base of knowledge gained either thru your own experiences or the experiences of those around you. But we all know that the best lessons stung the most. Remember to put your foot down when the motorcycle comes to a stop. Don't lick a frozen pole in winter. Little things that cause us to be more observant. My son has six wonderful children and so he has a foundation for coping with highly motivated children. My grandson has a foundation of disciple in order to interact with others socially. These are all skills acquired over time and sometimes with less then desired results.
So as we make our way thru this life we know that if we follow God's Word He will guide my way. So should I expect Him to meet me when and where of my choosing or can I rest in the knowledge that when ever and where ever I turn to Him I will find Him waiting for me.
Our being grounded in the word is not unlike the grounder in t-ball. All the kids can hit a grounder but are looking for that high fly to left field. We have begun with salvation and now we seek to live a life to the utmost of what God has provided us with.
FullyRelyingOnGod
One of my grandsons is just a totally bundle of pure energy. Flame on and lets save the world. This last couple of months he has been playing T-ball. And his dad is one of the coaches. How do you harness that much energy long enough to teach them the basics of baseball? How did my son find the inner strength to work with a group of these young firebrands?
It takes a foundation. A base of knowledge gained either thru your own experiences or the experiences of those around you. But we all know that the best lessons stung the most. Remember to put your foot down when the motorcycle comes to a stop. Don't lick a frozen pole in winter. Little things that cause us to be more observant. My son has six wonderful children and so he has a foundation for coping with highly motivated children. My grandson has a foundation of disciple in order to interact with others socially. These are all skills acquired over time and sometimes with less then desired results.
So as we make our way thru this life we know that if we follow God's Word He will guide my way. So should I expect Him to meet me when and where of my choosing or can I rest in the knowledge that when ever and where ever I turn to Him I will find Him waiting for me.
Our being grounded in the word is not unlike the grounder in t-ball. All the kids can hit a grounder but are looking for that high fly to left field. We have begun with salvation and now we seek to live a life to the utmost of what God has provided us with.
FullyRelyingOnGod
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