Consumed
22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
When you wake up in the morning, is there something that consumes your thoughts which in turn changes into consuming your actions, which eventually consumes your entire day? What tends to consume our thoughts is typically a worry that shouldn't keep us from focusing on what God wants us to focus on daily. What God wants to remind us of is His compassionate love that always seems to be enough. While we always want more to keep us from being consumed by things we don't want, why not change your consumption to the Lord and what He wants for us. His faithfulness is always there and we need not be consumed with what direction we are heading next. He will provide.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Fantastic Friday #272- Axhead
Axhead
1 The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”
And he said, “Go.”
3 Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”
“I will,” Elisha replied. 4 And he went with them.
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. 5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”
6 The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. 7 “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it. 2 Kings 6:1-6
Do you have an Axhead in your life or better yet a burden that drags you down? Looking back at this week I was thinking of all the burdens that we tend to let weigh us down with a heavy heart or mind on a regular basis. The interesting thing about this story above is that the Axhead sank to the bottom of the Jordan and was completely unseen, but the guy who dropped it in the water knew it was still there. How many of us allow our axheads to be hidden from others, but at the same time we still know they are still there weighing down our heart and we feel helpless like there is nothing we can do to lift that axhead. Well, with the power of God, Elisha was able to make the iron axhead float and be recovered. How about we rely on the Holy Spirit, who is living in us, to raise our axheads so they don't weigh us down. This way we can keep from feeling helpless from what is pulling us down to the bottom.
Have a great weekend.
1 The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”
And he said, “Go.”
3 Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”
“I will,” Elisha replied. 4 And he went with them.
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. 5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”
6 The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. 7 “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it. 2 Kings 6:1-6
Do you have an Axhead in your life or better yet a burden that drags you down? Looking back at this week I was thinking of all the burdens that we tend to let weigh us down with a heavy heart or mind on a regular basis. The interesting thing about this story above is that the Axhead sank to the bottom of the Jordan and was completely unseen, but the guy who dropped it in the water knew it was still there. How many of us allow our axheads to be hidden from others, but at the same time we still know they are still there weighing down our heart and we feel helpless like there is nothing we can do to lift that axhead. Well, with the power of God, Elisha was able to make the iron axhead float and be recovered. How about we rely on the Holy Spirit, who is living in us, to raise our axheads so they don't weigh us down. This way we can keep from feeling helpless from what is pulling us down to the bottom.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Fantastic Friday #271- Mountains
Good Morning Men,
Mountains
You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness,
O God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,
who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations. Psalm 65: 5-7
What mountain are you climbing? Is it a physical mountain or a mountain of pain of suffering? Or do you think it is a mountain and it is really a small hill. Whatever that mountain is in your life, remember the One who created the larger mountains is there for you. If He could create something that large and beautiful, then surely He an help you with your mountain.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Mountains
You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness,
O God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,
who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations. Psalm 65: 5-7
What mountain are you climbing? Is it a physical mountain or a mountain of pain of suffering? Or do you think it is a mountain and it is really a small hill. Whatever that mountain is in your life, remember the One who created the larger mountains is there for you. If He could create something that large and beautiful, then surely He an help you with your mountain.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, July 8, 2011
Fantastic Friday #270- Lonely
Lonely
4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds;
rejoice before him—his name is the LORD.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families,
he leads out the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Psalm 68:4-6
My family went to the lake this week and I stayed at home to take care of things and of course had to work. The first thought might be, wow you got some great quiet time or you sure had some time to yourself to do what you wanted. The answer to both those thoughts would be yes, but there was just one problem, I became lonely very quickly and realized of course how much I love being around my family. Just like God says above in verse 6, He sets the lonely in families. God created us for relationships and even if you don't have an immediate family, you do have those family members that are brothers and sisters in Christ who you can share life with. Don't be lonely but surround yourself with those who share your common bond.
Have a great weekend.
4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds;
rejoice before him—his name is the LORD.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families,
he leads out the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Psalm 68:4-6
My family went to the lake this week and I stayed at home to take care of things and of course had to work. The first thought might be, wow you got some great quiet time or you sure had some time to yourself to do what you wanted. The answer to both those thoughts would be yes, but there was just one problem, I became lonely very quickly and realized of course how much I love being around my family. Just like God says above in verse 6, He sets the lonely in families. God created us for relationships and even if you don't have an immediate family, you do have those family members that are brothers and sisters in Christ who you can share life with. Don't be lonely but surround yourself with those who share your common bond.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Fantastic Friday #269- Gloom
Gloom
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:8-10
I watched a group of 9 and 10 year old boys this week have a great time playing baseball and experiencing the laughter and joy of success and then most recently what could look like to most a seriously devastating loss. The funny thing is, just like most baseball players they played hard until the end and had forgotten about the loss before we left the stands. Do you humble yourself hard to the Lord or do you laugh off what the Lord can do for you? Do you focus on the Gloom and stay away from the Lord or during those tough times or do you come near the Lord and have Him lift you up. Take a moment to think about how you can take joy in the life you live, and how the Lord can take care of the gloom and doom you might feel.
Have a great weekend.
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:8-10
I watched a group of 9 and 10 year old boys this week have a great time playing baseball and experiencing the laughter and joy of success and then most recently what could look like to most a seriously devastating loss. The funny thing is, just like most baseball players they played hard until the end and had forgotten about the loss before we left the stands. Do you humble yourself hard to the Lord or do you laugh off what the Lord can do for you? Do you focus on the Gloom and stay away from the Lord or during those tough times or do you come near the Lord and have Him lift you up. Take a moment to think about how you can take joy in the life you live, and how the Lord can take care of the gloom and doom you might feel.
Have a great weekend.
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