Isn't it amazing when you find answers through asking questions? But of course it leads to more questions...
It's just really cool to me, when you have these questions, and then reading through scripture or even having a conversation with another person...that you find your answer and it just "clicks" in your mind.
I was talking to Billy (a great friend) the other day, and we started talking about various things. Somehow I started to tell him about a story that happened at my old job. There was another employee who asked me to be praying for her son, she said that he had some issues with not having a relationship with God. One was "If He knows what we need even before we ask, why pray?"
It's in those times that I try to find something to say. But nothing came, and I really didn't know how to respond, but told her I would pray.
Then while talking to Billy something similar came to mind. "Why do we ask for God to forgive us of our sins?" ...I remembered hearing that He calls us clean. I believe He calls us the righteous in Christ Jesus. So why ask though?
There is this song by Shane & Shane, "You and I", and in the bridge it says these great lines that shows what Jesus is saying to us and what we are saying back to Him:
"Clean...I am dirty! Clean...So unworthy! You are Clean!...Dirty, so Dirty...Clean...that's what I'm wanting..."
I don't know why but in that moment it clicked. You would have thought I had one the lottery, but yet I had found a nugget in this simple yet profound truth...
The reason why we pray even when He knows our needs before we pray...
The reason why we ask Him to forgive our sins...
Because we are dependant. We are humans, We are frail.
But sometime throughout the day we forget how dependant we are. We see ourselves capable of doing anything. We forget our order in the line up so to speak. We break relationship with our creator and put ourselves before God, we put other "gods" before God. We are told to seek first the kingdom of God...
Though when we come to Him throughout the day in prayer, thanking Him, praising Him, seeking His answer and counsel through prayers...that is when we remember how much of a great God He is! We remember all the great things He has done for us...how He has provided and taken care of us...How He delievered us in times of trouble... and how without Him we are really nothing.
We ask Him to forgive us, even though He calls us clean...for it reminds of when God, sent His only Son (Jesus) to die and save this frail race on this fallen earth. We remember the sacrifice that was made so we might have freedom. We remember the Cross. We see Him as the Savior that He is!
It all just shows us how dependant we are for Him, and how great He is! It brings Him glory.
There is so much questions that still arise even after this simple discovery. Some that seem big, gigantic...and some that might seem insignificant or small...but the good thing is He can handle them all...He is big enough for all my questions!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
encouraging story
I read this short story a while back and I thought I would share it. I thought it might encourage and lift your spirits.
There once was this famous golfer, who got asked by a famous royal king over seas in Saudi Arabia, to come over and spend some time playing golf together. The golfer agreed and flew over and spent a week with the king.
Once the week had come to a close, it was time for the golfer to fly back home. Though the king wanted to give him something as a thank you gift for coming and spending the week with him.
The king asked, "What is there that I can give you, that would express how grateful I am that you came to visit me?"
The golfer said, "You have been nothing but gracious for letting me spend time with you. You really do not have to give me anything."
The king once again asked, "I mean it. I really want to give you something, asked for anything...up to half my kingdom and I will give it to you."
The golfer saw that the king was not backing down at this time.
So the golfer responded, " Golf clubs. I try to collect rare and unusual golf clubs."
So the king agreed. The golfer got back on his plane for his ride back to the states. On the way home thoughts filled his head about what kind of golf clubs the king of Saudi Arabia might get him.
Maybe a diamond studded putter or even a solid gold driver. The possibilities were endless.
Once the golfer got home, he found himself waiting by the window for his package from the king to come.
Days went by...Weeks went by...
Then at the end of the month a letter adressed to him came in the mail. "Where is my diamond studded putter?", he wondered.
He opened the letter and to his amazement it was a certified deed to the largest golf course in the United States. The king had purchased an expensive and large golf course for him to own!
The lesson...
Kings think differently than we do. They think bigger! And Friends we serve the King of Kings. He can do abundantly more than we can ever think or imagine!
Think big!!!
There once was this famous golfer, who got asked by a famous royal king over seas in Saudi Arabia, to come over and spend some time playing golf together. The golfer agreed and flew over and spent a week with the king.
Once the week had come to a close, it was time for the golfer to fly back home. Though the king wanted to give him something as a thank you gift for coming and spending the week with him.
The king asked, "What is there that I can give you, that would express how grateful I am that you came to visit me?"
The golfer said, "You have been nothing but gracious for letting me spend time with you. You really do not have to give me anything."
The king once again asked, "I mean it. I really want to give you something, asked for anything...up to half my kingdom and I will give it to you."
The golfer saw that the king was not backing down at this time.
So the golfer responded, " Golf clubs. I try to collect rare and unusual golf clubs."
So the king agreed. The golfer got back on his plane for his ride back to the states. On the way home thoughts filled his head about what kind of golf clubs the king of Saudi Arabia might get him.
Maybe a diamond studded putter or even a solid gold driver. The possibilities were endless.
Once the golfer got home, he found himself waiting by the window for his package from the king to come.
Days went by...Weeks went by...
Then at the end of the month a letter adressed to him came in the mail. "Where is my diamond studded putter?", he wondered.
He opened the letter and to his amazement it was a certified deed to the largest golf course in the United States. The king had purchased an expensive and large golf course for him to own!
The lesson...
Kings think differently than we do. They think bigger! And Friends we serve the King of Kings. He can do abundantly more than we can ever think or imagine!
Think big!!!
great expectations
"Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. "
---{Hebrews 4:14-16 /The Message}
I once heard a pastor say that, " we go to a football game and expect to see a touchdown, to see the final minutes of clock to tick away and see some sort of big play. We go to baseball games to see grand slams or homeruns, and even basketball to see final second shots. We tend to go to many things with high expectations of what the final outcome may be....Why should church be any different?"
And why should it? Shouldn't we go to church with great joy and expectency knowing that lives are going to be changed, people set free, and long lost ones come home, and the list just doesn't end. Today we expect more to see people in church asleep in their pews, instead of people facedown before their maker. Church becomes nothing more than just a dull religous experience. It is seen as nothing more than a waste of time on Sunday. The church is seen as out of touch with the world today. Some men don't even make it because of their view of the Church. Everyone has a view. What is yours?
Expect more...believe that God is big. He can do abudantly more than we ever think or imagine.
You know, we should also have high expectations when it comes to our own personal relationships with God (Jesus). He is not out of touch with us, He has walked where we have walked in this life. When we go to God in earnest prayer, we should go believing that He can do something big. Something that blows our mind! I mean that one guy in the old testament in the bible, Elijah prayed that it would not rain for a period of time, and prayed again and the rain came...
"Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops."---{James 5:17-18 / NLT}
Our God is big...we should have big expectations. The bible is filled with ordinary people doing many great things. (A shepherd knocking a giant out. An old man building a large boat to prepare for the earth flood. A group of people knocking down a large city wall by just marching around it and shouting...and once again the list goes on.)
They all had this view of God. That He is big! They believed that He can do anything! He doesn't have to have all of these great materials to complete His work. All He wants is a willing and ready heart. One that has faith in God. One that has great expectations!
So as you walk with Jesus daily...think big...and when you think you are thinking big...think bigger...for our God is a big God!
---{Hebrews 4:14-16 /The Message}
I once heard a pastor say that, " we go to a football game and expect to see a touchdown, to see the final minutes of clock to tick away and see some sort of big play. We go to baseball games to see grand slams or homeruns, and even basketball to see final second shots. We tend to go to many things with high expectations of what the final outcome may be....Why should church be any different?"
And why should it? Shouldn't we go to church with great joy and expectency knowing that lives are going to be changed, people set free, and long lost ones come home, and the list just doesn't end. Today we expect more to see people in church asleep in their pews, instead of people facedown before their maker. Church becomes nothing more than just a dull religous experience. It is seen as nothing more than a waste of time on Sunday. The church is seen as out of touch with the world today. Some men don't even make it because of their view of the Church. Everyone has a view. What is yours?
Expect more...believe that God is big. He can do abudantly more than we ever think or imagine.
You know, we should also have high expectations when it comes to our own personal relationships with God (Jesus). He is not out of touch with us, He has walked where we have walked in this life. When we go to God in earnest prayer, we should go believing that He can do something big. Something that blows our mind! I mean that one guy in the old testament in the bible, Elijah prayed that it would not rain for a period of time, and prayed again and the rain came...
"Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops."---{James 5:17-18 / NLT}
Our God is big...we should have big expectations. The bible is filled with ordinary people doing many great things. (A shepherd knocking a giant out. An old man building a large boat to prepare for the earth flood. A group of people knocking down a large city wall by just marching around it and shouting...and once again the list goes on.)
They all had this view of God. That He is big! They believed that He can do anything! He doesn't have to have all of these great materials to complete His work. All He wants is a willing and ready heart. One that has faith in God. One that has great expectations!
So as you walk with Jesus daily...think big...and when you think you are thinking big...think bigger...for our God is a big God!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
community
Today my wife, Laura, reminded me of something that happened a little while back. Before this pregnancy now, we ended up having a miscarriage. We were very thankful that it was in the early stages. Though the first thought of pregnancy got us excited and then to find out that we had a miscarriage did bring a sense of grief to us both.
What amazed us both the most is that this was not as uncommon as we thought. Once we started telling those around us that we had a miscarriage, we found out that we had a lot more in common with them than we thought. After that moment, people came to us telling us that they too had experienced miscarriages, either in their first pregnancy or later down the road.
And in those moments...we connected with others in a way that is unspeakable. It helped to hear that we were not the only one to experience this tragedy. It brought a sense of togetherness, what once was broken with tragedy, was brought together, was restored with these great friends and family.
I am so thankful for everyone who helped us during that time.
This reminds me of a verse in the Bible.
James 5:16 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
So many of us have gone through tragedies and we tend to isolate ourself. I heard someone say that it is in those moments that you need to surround yourself with others. Once you begin to tell others, you may find that someone may have gone through the same thing, or maybe they haven't but you find healing in getting it out and not holding it in. You may have also messed up and in those times we need to find comfort and healing in life together, don't hold it in.
There is a christian artist, Derek Webb who said, " I would rather have my sin known to the whole world then suffer with the fact of holding it in, and trying not to be found out. I would like to have it put up on a billboard all over town, on newspapers, magazines, and even the evening news...for then I could find freedom in knowing that I no longer have to hide my faults and act like I have it all together."
There comes a time, when we get tired of putting on the act of having it all together. We have to become honest with ourselves and others...and find healing and freedom.
What amazed us both the most is that this was not as uncommon as we thought. Once we started telling those around us that we had a miscarriage, we found out that we had a lot more in common with them than we thought. After that moment, people came to us telling us that they too had experienced miscarriages, either in their first pregnancy or later down the road.
And in those moments...we connected with others in a way that is unspeakable. It helped to hear that we were not the only one to experience this tragedy. It brought a sense of togetherness, what once was broken with tragedy, was brought together, was restored with these great friends and family.
I am so thankful for everyone who helped us during that time.
This reminds me of a verse in the Bible.
James 5:16 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
So many of us have gone through tragedies and we tend to isolate ourself. I heard someone say that it is in those moments that you need to surround yourself with others. Once you begin to tell others, you may find that someone may have gone through the same thing, or maybe they haven't but you find healing in getting it out and not holding it in. You may have also messed up and in those times we need to find comfort and healing in life together, don't hold it in.
There is a christian artist, Derek Webb who said, " I would rather have my sin known to the whole world then suffer with the fact of holding it in, and trying not to be found out. I would like to have it put up on a billboard all over town, on newspapers, magazines, and even the evening news...for then I could find freedom in knowing that I no longer have to hide my faults and act like I have it all together."
There comes a time, when we get tired of putting on the act of having it all together. We have to become honest with ourselves and others...and find healing and freedom.
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