Jesus is a new relationship with God.
Whether you journey from Judaism, atheism, agnosticism, Buddhism, Hinduism, or any other "ism" that shuns Jesus, the step of wonder that you take when you decide Jesus is who the Bible says He is enters you into a new relationship with the One who created the entire universe.
As relationships go, it doesn't get any bigger--or more significant--than that.
No wonder it is the argument, the battle, the hostility of all time.
God wants you to have it.
Every enemy of God doesn't want you to have it.
Why is there a need to have a new relationship with God? Isn't just calling on His name enough?
You know how you call the shots in the little universe that is your home, your family, whatever you call your own?
God calls the shots in His giant universe that He calls His own.
Compliance with the one who calls the shots--doesn't that describe every battleground we face?
Give the Jesus battle your best consideration--He's worth your compliance.
18 August 2012
17 August 2012
Baby Badin...Better!
Badin nearly died.
Looking toward his first birthday in September, he fell into the family pool for only minutes, but his parents found him lifeless.
Why is he better?
His parents did an amazing job of CPR.
The EMS rescue team knew what to do.
Every hospital intervention continued to restore life.
Thousands of prayers re-knit an already close community into something even stronger.
And, at the end of the day, God knew his life wasn't at its end.
Dr. David Jeremiah, of the broadcast ministry, Turning Point, says:
This time it was Badin's turn, and ours, to remember the power and timing of God.
Looking toward his first birthday in September, he fell into the family pool for only minutes, but his parents found him lifeless.
Why is he better?
His parents did an amazing job of CPR.
The EMS rescue team knew what to do.
Every hospital intervention continued to restore life.
Thousands of prayers re-knit an already close community into something even stronger.
And, at the end of the day, God knew his life wasn't at its end.
Dr. David Jeremiah, of the broadcast ministry, Turning Point, says:
A child of God in the will of God is immortal until his work on earth is done.For every close call, for every restoration, for every miracle, we are exceedingly thankful.
This time it was Badin's turn, and ours, to remember the power and timing of God.
16 August 2012
Steer Well
Today you will, like yesterday and all the days before, step into the captain role, steering the ship of conversation in which you find yourself a part.
Will you steer into muddy waters, taking the immature route of losing your temper when self-control would take you into God-charted waters?
Will you commandeer your ship into clear, aquamarine water that replenishes someone's heart with your full listening and encouragement?
Will you move safely through the rocks that lie ahead, helping those in your circle of conversation avoid half-truths and hanging on to what they want to believe rather than God-truth?
What a responsibility to enter into every conversation of our day!
Being the captain of a ship is the responsibility of safe movement and desired destination. We move through conversations with the same responsibility. Only wisdom can help us move safely through the ocean of words exchanged, reaching--with all parties intact--the shore of truth and encouragement.
Wisdom is only granted by God.
So, Captain, don't forget to ask for today's powering up of wisdom.
Steer well.
Will you steer into muddy waters, taking the immature route of losing your temper when self-control would take you into God-charted waters?
Will you commandeer your ship into clear, aquamarine water that replenishes someone's heart with your full listening and encouragement?
Will you move safely through the rocks that lie ahead, helping those in your circle of conversation avoid half-truths and hanging on to what they want to believe rather than God-truth?
What a responsibility to enter into every conversation of our day!
Being the captain of a ship is the responsibility of safe movement and desired destination. We move through conversations with the same responsibility. Only wisdom can help us move safely through the ocean of words exchanged, reaching--with all parties intact--the shore of truth and encouragement.
Wisdom is only granted by God.
So, Captain, don't forget to ask for today's powering up of wisdom.
Steer well.
15 August 2012
Please, God
A baby fights for his life in ICU.
In bare moments unaccounted for, he found his way to the family pool.
His first birthday lies just ahead.
Prayers have stormed heaven all night.
This is an example of one of the dreads of life. We hear about them, know that others live through such horror, and always offer prayers and compassion.
When it is someone dear to you, the pain and dread escalate into desperation.
This baby is dear to me--his father lived with us long ago when his own family experienced tragedy.
So through the night, we have begged: Please, God.
No words, just tears...and hope.
It is up to God now.
Fight, little Badin, fight.
If we are feeding your strength with our prayers, eat mightily.
In bare moments unaccounted for, he found his way to the family pool.
His first birthday lies just ahead.
Prayers have stormed heaven all night.
This is an example of one of the dreads of life. We hear about them, know that others live through such horror, and always offer prayers and compassion.
When it is someone dear to you, the pain and dread escalate into desperation.
This baby is dear to me--his father lived with us long ago when his own family experienced tragedy.
So through the night, we have begged: Please, God.
No words, just tears...and hope.
It is up to God now.
Fight, little Badin, fight.
If we are feeding your strength with our prayers, eat mightily.
14 August 2012
Whatever You Bank
I will soon exit my fifties, and nothing I have learned is more compelling than the power of cumulative in the sense that whatever we bank will gain strength and power in our lives, for our good...or not so good.
As it concerns physical health, your body will express in your fifties whatever you have banked in your thirties and forties. If you have eaten well and exercised diligently, you will have in your vault of health a reserve that will combat the inevitable aging of your body. You absolutely can impact your mobility, your disease factor and your pain quotient. Little or no reserve will lead you into a bankruptcy of health.
Emotionally, if you bank freedom from grudge-holding, residue anger and envy, your heart will build a reserve that you can tap into over all of your years. Emotional fragility from carrying unnecessary baggage will tear into your health reserve, your relationships and your intimacy with God.
Spiritually, if you bank the promises of God by reading His road map (the Bible), learning to hear His voice (the Holy Spirit) and embracing the truth of Jesus as God, then Psalm 119 (MSG translation) says something quite interesting:
Not that I won't sin...just that I won't bankrupt myself on my sin.
We bank money. We bank health. We bank emotional freedom.
Why don't we bank the promises of God?
Why aren't we that good to ourselves?
Wherever you spend your time today, spend to save by banking a few of the promises of God. Let the power of cumulative work in your favor.
As it concerns physical health, your body will express in your fifties whatever you have banked in your thirties and forties. If you have eaten well and exercised diligently, you will have in your vault of health a reserve that will combat the inevitable aging of your body. You absolutely can impact your mobility, your disease factor and your pain quotient. Little or no reserve will lead you into a bankruptcy of health.
Emotionally, if you bank freedom from grudge-holding, residue anger and envy, your heart will build a reserve that you can tap into over all of your years. Emotional fragility from carrying unnecessary baggage will tear into your health reserve, your relationships and your intimacy with God.
Spiritually, if you bank the promises of God by reading His road map (the Bible), learning to hear His voice (the Holy Spirit) and embracing the truth of Jesus as God, then Psalm 119 (MSG translation) says something quite interesting:
"I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt."Sin myself bankrupt?
Not that I won't sin...just that I won't bankrupt myself on my sin.
We bank money. We bank health. We bank emotional freedom.
Why don't we bank the promises of God?
Why aren't we that good to ourselves?
Wherever you spend your time today, spend to save by banking a few of the promises of God. Let the power of cumulative work in your favor.
13 August 2012
A More Critical Prayer for Ryan Hall
Dear Lord,
I saw the interview prior to Ryan Hall's Olympic marathon run where he said, "God is going to have to show up."
Yesterday we saw him drop out of the race early with hamstring issues. Did You show up? Were You really there?
I am going to say yes, not only because You are always everywhere, especially when invited as with Ryan, but because yesterday, though crushingly disappointing, did not really surprise me.
You just show up in the oddest ways!
Were/are You setting the stage for something greater in Ryan's life, in his mission, in his world platform as a professional runner?
Were/are You testing his mettle in yesterday's outcome as You so "bruisingly" but lovingly do?
My petition to You on his behalf is that You ever so tenderly expand his embrace of You--that he would keep You as his Coach, that he would not waver from his platform of being professionally led by You.
Expand his breath of You until his capacity to breathe You is new and ever larger, energizing us and giving us new courage to embrace You more and more publicly. Much of our inspiration of You comes through him.
Give him such perfect peace with yesterday's outcome. Only You could/can make gold out of a very short race that is the start of a very long victory.
It is in Your Name I pray.
Amen.
I saw the interview prior to Ryan Hall's Olympic marathon run where he said, "God is going to have to show up."
Yesterday we saw him drop out of the race early with hamstring issues. Did You show up? Were You really there?
I am going to say yes, not only because You are always everywhere, especially when invited as with Ryan, but because yesterday, though crushingly disappointing, did not really surprise me.
You just show up in the oddest ways!
Were/are You setting the stage for something greater in Ryan's life, in his mission, in his world platform as a professional runner?
Were/are You testing his mettle in yesterday's outcome as You so "bruisingly" but lovingly do?
My petition to You on his behalf is that You ever so tenderly expand his embrace of You--that he would keep You as his Coach, that he would not waver from his platform of being professionally led by You.
Expand his breath of You until his capacity to breathe You is new and ever larger, energizing us and giving us new courage to embrace You more and more publicly. Much of our inspiration of You comes through him.
Give him such perfect peace with yesterday's outcome. Only You could/can make gold out of a very short race that is the start of a very long victory.
It is in Your Name I pray.
Amen.
12 August 2012
A Prayer for Ryan Hall
Lord, in just a few moments, Ryan Hall will begin the men's Olympic marathon in London.
Hundreds of athletes--what makes him stand out?
Because he made You his official coach. At Your urging, by speaking to his heart, he released his coach from the 2008 Olympics and signed up with You.
Staggering.
Because he has said to the world--and he certainly has a world stage for the moment--that You are a real person and You want to work through his life...now.
The race starts in moments. I know You are there.
Show us how to make You our coach--for life--as well.
Thank you for loving us so very much.
And, Lord, help him be fast...very, very fast.
Amen.
Hundreds of athletes--what makes him stand out?
Because he made You his official coach. At Your urging, by speaking to his heart, he released his coach from the 2008 Olympics and signed up with You.
Staggering.
Because he has said to the world--and he certainly has a world stage for the moment--that You are a real person and You want to work through his life...now.
The race starts in moments. I know You are there.
Show us how to make You our coach--for life--as well.
Thank you for loving us so very much.
And, Lord, help him be fast...very, very fast.
Amen.
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