We get him four days early. We are so excited.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
CELEBRATING SACRIFICE!
As I wrote on our personal blog, this is called Good Friday. What in the world would have been good about a man who was mortal at that moment, being called forward to be whipped and hung on a cross?
What a true sacrifice is that. Many of us would not be willing to have to do that. I know of parents who do anything for their kids, and go down for them if they had to. But not in that manner nor would there be any glory in that. Only God's Son would have the right to be glorified in this manner.
As you reflect this weekend, and even help kids or grand-kids hunt for Easter eggs, think about what we are really to get out of this. Last weekend Pastor Stu relayed a story about his daughter from China who is now 6 or 7 and they are teaching her about Easter. So in the car one day, he asked her if she knew the story of Easter and why we celebrate it. She hemmed hawed around and said slowly. . .
"Ah. . . its about Jesus and . . . ahm. . .what to do with Easter eggs!" Naturally he was mortified.
Let's really take in the impact of our freedom that was given fully this entire weekend. Its breath taking. He is breath taking. He is the Shepherd of our Hearts.
"SOMETIMES WHEN I SIT QUIETLY, CONSIDERING WHAT JESUS DID FOR ME, I GET A LITTLE OVERWHELMED."
What a true sacrifice is that. Many of us would not be willing to have to do that. I know of parents who do anything for their kids, and go down for them if they had to. But not in that manner nor would there be any glory in that. Only God's Son would have the right to be glorified in this manner.
As you reflect this weekend, and even help kids or grand-kids hunt for Easter eggs, think about what we are really to get out of this. Last weekend Pastor Stu relayed a story about his daughter from China who is now 6 or 7 and they are teaching her about Easter. So in the car one day, he asked her if she knew the story of Easter and why we celebrate it. She hemmed hawed around and said slowly. . .
"Ah. . . its about Jesus and . . . ahm. . .what to do with Easter eggs!" Naturally he was mortified.
Let's really take in the impact of our freedom that was given fully this entire weekend. Its breath taking. He is breath taking. He is the Shepherd of our Hearts.
"SOMETIMES WHEN I SIT QUIETLY, CONSIDERING WHAT JESUS DID FOR ME, I GET A LITTLE OVERWHELMED."
Sunday, April 13, 2014
PATHWAYS TO WORSHIP!
It is that wonderful time of year when we celebrate and Worship God's sacrifice for us. His Son died on the cross for us so we could get free of sin and live forever with Him.
I had another subject I was going to write about, but I got very engrossed in Pastor Stuart's sermon on Worship. And, especially the 7 Pathways to Worship God.
It has such Psychological connection for me:
1. THE INTELLECTUAL - The one who loves to learn, by listening to Sermons, or reading books about God. They love to study eveything available. They are not so much into music, just get on with the Sermon or presentation of learning.
2. RELATIONAL - They are the ones who love to be with people when they worship. Small groups that study the Word. Conferences, one on ones.
3. SERVING - Helping others - greeters, ushers, pray with others, serve in the kitchen, anything that helps others at church or in the community.
4. WORSHIP - ARTS PART OF WORSHIP: Choir, or singing, dancing, drama's anything with a flair for presentation. Listening to praise music all week.
5. ACTIVIST - THEY LOVE PROBLEM SOLVING- anything that needs leading, or done, they will see to it - it gets done.
6. CONTEMPLATIVE - They love to mediate on everything - but always alone. Read, sing, pray, meditate.
7. CREATION - These are your nature lovers. Long prayer walks in the woods, fishers, hunters, anything that requires being outside and worshiping God.
Which one, or two, or three are you? He emphasized that even if we are a one, two or three type of worshipers, think on being balanced in all of them. You will like one more than all the rest, but be open to them all. He noted and I have seen it myself, that some will come after the corporate worship music has ended to hear the Sermon, and or if there isn't enough worship music, they will hunt for a church that has all music. Balance is good, because:
"I must prioritize my daily worship of God instead of a daily worship of myself!"
What more can I say. I chose four I like the best, but I could say I have developed the rest out of a need to stay connected 24/7.
Col. 1: 16
Enjoy your Easter Weekend. Good Friday services at CLC from 7-8 PM. And Easter Sunday 9:30 and 11AM. Wherever you worship, do it in honor and celebration of our Lord and Savior.
I had another subject I was going to write about, but I got very engrossed in Pastor Stuart's sermon on Worship. And, especially the 7 Pathways to Worship God.
It has such Psychological connection for me:
1. THE INTELLECTUAL - The one who loves to learn, by listening to Sermons, or reading books about God. They love to study eveything available. They are not so much into music, just get on with the Sermon or presentation of learning.
2. RELATIONAL - They are the ones who love to be with people when they worship. Small groups that study the Word. Conferences, one on ones.
3. SERVING - Helping others - greeters, ushers, pray with others, serve in the kitchen, anything that helps others at church or in the community.
4. WORSHIP - ARTS PART OF WORSHIP: Choir, or singing, dancing, drama's anything with a flair for presentation. Listening to praise music all week.
5. ACTIVIST - THEY LOVE PROBLEM SOLVING- anything that needs leading, or done, they will see to it - it gets done.
6. CONTEMPLATIVE - They love to mediate on everything - but always alone. Read, sing, pray, meditate.
7. CREATION - These are your nature lovers. Long prayer walks in the woods, fishers, hunters, anything that requires being outside and worshiping God.
Which one, or two, or three are you? He emphasized that even if we are a one, two or three type of worshipers, think on being balanced in all of them. You will like one more than all the rest, but be open to them all. He noted and I have seen it myself, that some will come after the corporate worship music has ended to hear the Sermon, and or if there isn't enough worship music, they will hunt for a church that has all music. Balance is good, because:
"I must prioritize my daily worship of God instead of a daily worship of myself!"
What more can I say. I chose four I like the best, but I could say I have developed the rest out of a need to stay connected 24/7.
Col. 1: 16
Enjoy your Easter Weekend. Good Friday services at CLC from 7-8 PM. And Easter Sunday 9:30 and 11AM. Wherever you worship, do it in honor and celebration of our Lord and Savior.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
TRANSFORMATIONS!
Transforming is always fun, at least for me it is. How about you? I have used II Cor. 5: 17 more than once, but it is useful here again. Winter turns into Spring, Spring turns into Summer, Summer turns into fall etc. Most women love to get new hair cuts, a new Easter outfit, plant new flowers, change the furniture; Men love to get new golf clubs, new guns, new cars, new tools; kids love to get new computers, new phones, new friends; it is all part of the transformation we all see every day.
The old things pass - all things become new.
WHEW! And all is right with the world after 5 months of winter. I will never take that for granted again. I felt relieved. I felt grateful, I felt a great big sigh coming on. I really wondered even Thursday and Friday if we would ever see spring happening. Just had to share that. Transformation in our spiritual lives is a BIG DEAL as well. Letting God change you His way is a BIG DEAL!
I heard a friend tell me on the phone today that she just wasn't ready to "forgive" yet. "I am too devastated!" "This is horrible, I can't believe it!" I also heard another person say, "I just can't believe I spent my whole life working so hard to make it right for my kids, and they grow up and do this!" "I don't deserve this!" I could go on and on, one and on. it still boils down to the same thing, same station, same day, you need to let God transform their lives. Let Him write on their page. That is write you did do everything you could, but that is all you can do. We give our kids, or family members, or co-workers all the tools we can BUT. . .we can't make them use them. God gave us free will. I have seen that in counseling. I can give my clients all the tools and resources, cheer lead and motivate forever, but they still have to take it and use it. I can't go home with them and make them see it and do it. That is why Transformation takes in everything. A makeover in your attitude, a makeover in your grace and forgiveness chip. You can't do this by yourself. Praise Him and thank Him, Trust Him and make Him look good. TRANSFORM! Phil 4: 13 and 19.
You can do ALL things through Him who strengthens you and He will give you all you need to do it.
PERIOD.
The old things pass - all things become new.
WHEW! And all is right with the world after 5 months of winter. I will never take that for granted again. I felt relieved. I felt grateful, I felt a great big sigh coming on. I really wondered even Thursday and Friday if we would ever see spring happening. Just had to share that. Transformation in our spiritual lives is a BIG DEAL as well. Letting God change you His way is a BIG DEAL!
I heard a friend tell me on the phone today that she just wasn't ready to "forgive" yet. "I am too devastated!" "This is horrible, I can't believe it!" I also heard another person say, "I just can't believe I spent my whole life working so hard to make it right for my kids, and they grow up and do this!" "I don't deserve this!" I could go on and on, one and on. it still boils down to the same thing, same station, same day, you need to let God transform their lives. Let Him write on their page. That is write you did do everything you could, but that is all you can do. We give our kids, or family members, or co-workers all the tools we can BUT. . .we can't make them use them. God gave us free will. I have seen that in counseling. I can give my clients all the tools and resources, cheer lead and motivate forever, but they still have to take it and use it. I can't go home with them and make them see it and do it. That is why Transformation takes in everything. A makeover in your attitude, a makeover in your grace and forgiveness chip. You can't do this by yourself. Praise Him and thank Him, Trust Him and make Him look good. TRANSFORM! Phil 4: 13 and 19.
You can do ALL things through Him who strengthens you and He will give you all you need to do it.
PERIOD.
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