Posted on September 3, 2008 at 5:30am.
As we head to the weekend my mind has been preoccupied with James. I’m not not talking in the third person about myself, I’m referring to the book in the Bible. We begin our study of this letter, written by the brother of Jesus on Saturday. Of the many themes James will speak about one idea is clearly alien to our culture - adversity. Not just the idea of adversity but that it is to be seen as a virtue, something of value in my life. I live to eliminate discomfort let alone actual trials. I don’t know how God will use our study in your life - I know for me he has been rocking my world. I am praying for you and the Spirit’s working in your life and praying the same for myself.
Posted on September 2, 2008 at 5:14am.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8
I tasted some very good food over the weekend. Truth be told, it is one of the things I really enjoy - good food. The Psalmist invites us to taste, experience, the goodness of God in our lives. To be a people who allow him to be our comfort and our protection. I long to experience the taste of God in my life as richly and as often as I do a good meal. Why not take the Psalmist up on his request. Go ahead take a bite.
Posted on August 30, 2008 at 6:07am.
Every now and then my blog is just my thoughts about the things in life I enjoy. Today is one of those days. Today is a great day - the college football season begins! I know there were a few teams who played on Thursday night (sorry Pack fans) but today is the real beginning. Over the next few weeks passions will run high for many of you as you cheer for the school you attended. You will dress with your team’s colors, cancel any engagement on the day they play and go in morning if they loose. One of the advantages of going to a Bible College is we didn’t have a football team so I can adopt anyone. For years, with a story that is too long to try and explain here, our family has adopted Florida football. So today I will be cheering for the Gators. Truthfully I just love the excitement of college football - it is a great time of the year.
Posted on August 29, 2008 at 5:54am.
Here is a phrase I read recently that has caused my mind to be stirred - “Christ himself is the dynamic of his own demands.” What a great truth! It is the Holy Spirit working in and through my often fragile obedience enabling me to live the Christian life. The Apostle Paul put it this way in Colossians 1:29, “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” My struggling with Christ’s energy - both together. The Christian life is by definition a supernatural life but it still means I participate in the process. It is not all my effort with God sitting back in heaven watching nor is it all God with me sitting in an easy chair. It is the combination of both that allows us to live the life of a Christ follower to the glory of God.
Posted on August 27, 2008 at 6:28am.
I woke up this morning to a beautiful sunrise (which means I wasn’t in Charlotte). A new day, a fresh start to whatever God has in store for me. I was reminded that what also greeted me today was the newness of God’s mercy, his grace, his forgiveness and his love. What a marvelous promise - new for today. I don’t have to rely on what he gave me yesterday. I don’t have to worry that my supply is all used up. New every morning - what a beautiful thought.
