My prayer for today.... Bring on the Chisel!!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Break Off
What did Daniel advise King Nebuchadnezzar to do in verse 27?
Daniel told the king "Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
Some things Don't need to be cut back. They need to be cut off!!
Daniel told the king "Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
Some things Don't need to be cut back. They need to be cut off!!
Stripped leaves & Scattered fruit
Why was King Nebuchadnezzar so incomparable in his day (Dan. 2:37-38)?
According to Daniel2:33-38 he was incomparable because "The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and Glory."
Nebuchadnezzar's reign had been like a sheltering, fruit-bearing tree, but God alone seeded it, watered it, raised it and blessed it. Without God, the kings of the earth are as nothing-including those who never acknowledge His name.
But he didn't "get it" and soon..he wouldn't even "have it"
According to Daniel2:33-38 he was incomparable because "The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and Glory."
Nebuchadnezzar's reign had been like a sheltering, fruit-bearing tree, but God alone seeded it, watered it, raised it and blessed it. Without God, the kings of the earth are as nothing-including those who never acknowledge His name.
But he didn't "get it" and soon..he wouldn't even "have it"
Stubborn minds
How can you tell King Nebuchadnezzar still didn't get the picture (Dan.4:8)
Over 30 years had passed since King Neb's first prophetic dream recorded in Daniel 2 to his second dream in Daniel 4 and yet Nebuchadnezzar could not seem to dislodge his thinking! The truth that Daniel's God is the one and only God had never taken root in the inmost places of his heart. He greatly honored the God of Daniel by putting him a little higher than all the other gods but he just didn't "get it".
We are powerless to force spiritual understanding on another person. We an encourage, teach, and urge, ut we can't make them "get it".
Thankfully God can!
"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." Luke 24:45
Only the Holy Spirt can breath a fresh breath of insight!
Over 30 years had passed since King Neb's first prophetic dream recorded in Daniel 2 to his second dream in Daniel 4 and yet Nebuchadnezzar could not seem to dislodge his thinking! The truth that Daniel's God is the one and only God had never taken root in the inmost places of his heart. He greatly honored the God of Daniel by putting him a little higher than all the other gods but he just didn't "get it".
We are powerless to force spiritual understanding on another person. We an encourage, teach, and urge, ut we can't make them "get it".
Thankfully God can!
"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." Luke 24:45
Only the Holy Spirt can breath a fresh breath of insight!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The Lap of Luxury
How does our culture define contented and prosperous?
Contented:
Feeling or showing satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation.
Prosperous:
Marked by success or economic well- being.
Enjoying vigorous and healthy growth
Like Beth said in my last session..."Rich is anyone who could buy the book and the education to be able to read the book!"
I want to have an abundance of him!
Make me courageous enough to pray that no earthly luxury would ever cheat me of true prosperity.
Contented:
Feeling or showing satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation.
Prosperous:
Marked by success or economic well- being.
Enjoying vigorous and healthy growth
Like Beth said in my last session..."Rich is anyone who could buy the book and the education to be able to read the book!"
I want to have an abundance of him!
Make me courageous enough to pray that no earthly luxury would ever cheat me of true prosperity.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
My Pleasure to tell
How did Nebuchadnezzar feel about sharing what God had done for him?
Nebuchadnezzar's proclamation came from the vantage point of hindsight.
His proclamation came after his sanity was resorted...when he was thinking straight again.
"in order to testify to God's greatness and power, he had to show himself foolish. Indeed, beastly.
I can relate to Nebuchadnezzar. "When my thoughts were bitter and my feelings were hurt,
I was a stupid as an animal." I may not have looked as animal-like as Nebuchadnezzar, but I have acted as stupid as am animal over my bitterness and hurt.
I'm sure that I am not the only one.
Am I as willing to take the risk of looking foolish to share a powerful testimony?
A testimony is a powerful way to make God famous in our sphere of influence.
In God's economy, the way up is down. Then measured from our knees to the tips of our heads, beloved, we keep getting taller.
Nebuchadnezzar's proclamation came from the vantage point of hindsight.
His proclamation came after his sanity was resorted...when he was thinking straight again.
"in order to testify to God's greatness and power, he had to show himself foolish. Indeed, beastly.
I can relate to Nebuchadnezzar. "When my thoughts were bitter and my feelings were hurt,
I was a stupid as an animal." I may not have looked as animal-like as Nebuchadnezzar, but I have acted as stupid as am animal over my bitterness and hurt.
I'm sure that I am not the only one.
Am I as willing to take the risk of looking foolish to share a powerful testimony?
A testimony is a powerful way to make God famous in our sphere of influence.
In God's economy, the way up is down. Then measured from our knees to the tips of our heads, beloved, we keep getting taller.
Friday, June 5, 2009
If he does not
How did John Hus or Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley exhibit loyalty?
John Hus actively promoted Wycliffe’s ideas: that people should be permitted to read the Bible in their own language, and they should oppose the tyranny of the Roman church that threatened anyone possessing a non-Latin Bible with execution. Hus was burned at the stake in 1415, with Wycliffe’s manuscript Bibles used as kindling for the fire. He was fixed, steadfast and faithful even to the end.
Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley both met their end at the stake in Oxford on the 16th of October 1555. They were ready, prepared and determined.
*We can be delivered from the fire
*our faith is built
*We can be delivered through the fire
*our faith is refined
*We can be delivered by the fire into His arms.
*Our faith is perfected.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor live, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers;, neither height nor dept, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. "
Romans 8:38-39
I trust you to the death.
I trust you through the death.
I know that the blink of an eye, I will understand.
Will you?
John Hus actively promoted Wycliffe’s ideas: that people should be permitted to read the Bible in their own language, and they should oppose the tyranny of the Roman church that threatened anyone possessing a non-Latin Bible with execution. Hus was burned at the stake in 1415, with Wycliffe’s manuscript Bibles used as kindling for the fire. He was fixed, steadfast and faithful even to the end.
Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley both met their end at the stake in Oxford on the 16th of October 1555. They were ready, prepared and determined.
*We can be delivered from the fire
*our faith is built
*We can be delivered through the fire
*our faith is refined
*We can be delivered by the fire into His arms.
*Our faith is perfected.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor live, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers;, neither height nor dept, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. "
Romans 8:38-39
I trust you to the death.
I trust you through the death.
I know that the blink of an eye, I will understand.
Will you?
The heart of loyalty
Based on your own understanding, how would you define loyalty?
Loyalty:
–noun, plural -ties.
1. the state or quality of being loyal; faithfulness to commitments or obligations.
2. faithful adherence to a sovereign, government, leader, cause, etc.
3. an example or instance of faithfulness, adherence, or the like: a man with fierce loyalties.
**devoted attachment to something or someone**
The original Hebrew word: "to be firm, be established, be steadfast, be faithful, be sure, be reliable, be fixed, be certain: to be ready, be prepared; to be determined"
..the part of the definition that spoke fresh truth to me was the element of preparation.
This is not something that I am suddenly at the flash-moment of testing. It's something I already am at the surface In the test. The question has already been answered. I simply act upon it.
God has never let me down!!
He will do it again and again..
I need to stand in that word and stand in faith.
I know where my loyalty stands with Christ.
Do you?
Loyalty:
–noun, plural -ties.
1. the state or quality of being loyal; faithfulness to commitments or obligations.
2. faithful adherence to a sovereign, government, leader, cause, etc.
3. an example or instance of faithfulness, adherence, or the like: a man with fierce loyalties.
**devoted attachment to something or someone**
The original Hebrew word: "to be firm, be established, be steadfast, be faithful, be sure, be reliable, be fixed, be certain: to be ready, be prepared; to be determined"
..the part of the definition that spoke fresh truth to me was the element of preparation.
This is not something that I am suddenly at the flash-moment of testing. It's something I already am at the surface In the test. The question has already been answered. I simply act upon it.
God has never let me down!!
He will do it again and again..
I need to stand in that word and stand in faith.
I know where my loyalty stands with Christ.
Do you?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Apple of His eye
What does Galatians 5:15 warn will happen if two people don't cease "biting and devouring each other"?
Denounce means "ate a piece of"...the astrologers were trying to kill Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego with their words.
I will admit that there are times when I bite and devour with words during heated conflicts and I 'm sure each of us still has a scar or two from an old bit. By that I mean something said that hurt badly enough not to be forgotten.
What an unhealthy and miserable way to live!
I need to find less destructive ways to communicate my frustration.
I am the spiritual see of Abraham. Nothing touches me without touching His eye.
Nothing bites me without Him feeling it.
He sees.
He knows.
He acts.
And, best of all, He heals.
Father forgive me for all the words that should have never been uttered...heal those that I hurt! Father heal the hurts that I have felt too.
Denounce means "ate a piece of"...the astrologers were trying to kill Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego with their words.
I will admit that there are times when I bite and devour with words during heated conflicts and I 'm sure each of us still has a scar or two from an old bit. By that I mean something said that hurt badly enough not to be forgotten.
What an unhealthy and miserable way to live!
I need to find less destructive ways to communicate my frustration.
I am the spiritual see of Abraham. Nothing touches me without touching His eye.
Nothing bites me without Him feeling it.
He sees.
He knows.
He acts.
And, best of all, He heals.
Father forgive me for all the words that should have never been uttered...heal those that I hurt! Father heal the hurts that I have felt too.
Another side of self-absorption
What does James 3:13-16 say about selfish ambition? I agree when Beth said that our culturally indoctrinated brains need a fresh washing by the Word.
"Who is wise and understanding among you?
Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition i your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil
For where you have envy an selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."
James 3:13-16
We think we want to be one top, whether socially, professionally, athletically, or ministerially. Yet nothing breeds more insecurity. The World says, "seek Position!" The Word say, "seek God"
I want to give my entire life to the pursuit of God.
I know that everything else of value will find me.
I want a head-on collision with calling, a sense of purpose, satisfaction.
I have been chosen, by the God of all creation for a life worth living.
I will never feel inferior again!
"Who is wise and understanding among you?
Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition i your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil
For where you have envy an selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."
James 3:13-16
We think we want to be one top, whether socially, professionally, athletically, or ministerially. Yet nothing breeds more insecurity. The World says, "seek Position!" The Word say, "seek God"
I want to give my entire life to the pursuit of God.
I know that everything else of value will find me.
I want a head-on collision with calling, a sense of purpose, satisfaction.
I have been chosen, by the God of all creation for a life worth living.
I will never feel inferior again!
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