Shaky ground

Hebrews 5:12-14 GWT

By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food. All those who live on milk lack the experience to talk about what is right. They are still babies. However, solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil.


We should be eating solid food. We tend to build our foundations on sandy ground, instead of diging down to bed rock. A life built on sandy soil will crumble and fall, but a life build on the bed rock of Jesus will never fail. I often fonder how many around me have built on sandy soil. The same could be said for believers who know the good news that christ gave to us, but won't live it much less share it.

Father I you are my foundation, my strength, my life. I pray that my presence shines your light.

Damaged goods?

Many times in our walk we get to thinking why would god use me. Ive been down so many roads that have damaged and scarred me that he wouldnt want to use me. I'm here to tell you it doesn't matter how damaged, how scarred you are god can use you.

In my own life I somes get to thinking this, but then I remember when he bled the ground red on calvalry. His grace is more than enough to heal the scars in our lives. God can't use me....on the contrary god can and does use the things in our lives we would never consider to bring him glory. The video below is a good example of that. Watch it...afterwards I beleive you'll see he can and does use anyone...no matter what the world thinks. May god bless this little boy and his family. This video has truly blessed me.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPTMA7HIIyk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Light

Over the past few days I have hsd the privilege of being on retreat with over 100 men. There are two versus I have had on my heart the whole time the first is psalm 46:10 be still and know I am god. The second is Matthew 5:13-16 GWT

“You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. “You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.


We are all called to spread the good news to those around us. To be light in dark places, but do we really share? There are people dieing on our watch and we stand on our lamp stand covering our light. Remove the cover and let it shine. The video below describes my desire. Father I need your presence, every hour of every day. Give ms the words to say when I need to say them. Father do in me your will, let my words be your words. In jesus name Amen



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-KM_zpwfr4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Will you lead?

If we men dont lead our famlies, who will?

Many leaders tend to think highly of themselves. They think everything will fall apart without them. When in truth, really great leaders know that trusting in god to do the leading will really make the difference. I have had, if we men dont lead ourbfamiloes who will, on my mind all week. Am I truly leading my family, or just thinking things will fall apart without me? This is a question we all need to really sit and ask ourselves.

To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace. Luke 1: 79


Psalm 32:8

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)8 The Lord says,    “I will instruct you.    I will teach you the way that you should go.    I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.


He wants to direct us, he wants to help us...but will we let him? Wake up men!! Wake up jesus wants to help you lead your family. Even if you arent married, someone in your life needs you to lead. Lean on jesus...he will guide you...if you would only let him.

Boston

I have no words to describe the events of today in boston. My heart is hurting for all those affected. My the grace and peace of our heavenly father be with those affected by todays events. I pray blessing over not only those affected, but those who rushed in to help.


Like a shepherd he takes care of his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms. He carries them in his arms. He gently helps the sheep and their lambs.

Isaiah 40:11


I am in prayer for all affected.

Harvest

He made all things new. When he died on calvalry he washed us white as snow. It reminds me of spring, flowers blooming, snow either melting or melted. Gardens and fields being prepared for planting. Our surrender to the king of kings prepares us for the harvest. Question is are we willing to be planted in the word?

Over the past few days I have prepared my raised beds in the back yard to be planted. I put compost and fertilizer on them. Tilled them. They are ready to have plants planted. It is important to prepare the soil. If the soil isnt prepared properly the plants wont grow. Just as if we dont remain in the word, we wont grow. If we dont pray we wont grow. I pray as spring gives way to summer and summer to fall that we would be in the word, that we would be in prayer. Because its not just the growrh, or the harvest....its all the above.

I pray we prepare our soil, grow our lives, and harvest in the fall!

Baggage

How much baggage are you carrying? As we travel our paths things happen to us. We tend to internalize the hurt it causes us. Everytime picking up baggage. As we travel unless we surrender the hurt and baggage to jesus, it will eventually get unbearable.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlTzgTW3WaE

Tired of carrying around baggage? Tired of carrying a heavy load? Give it to the one who died on calvalry so we wouldnt have to!



https://www.youtube.com/embed/KHPckyV83EA

Father I pray not only for myself, but for all that would read this post. I pray that we would lay down our baggage, I pray we would live as an offering to you. I bow down before you. I pray my life would be an offering and an example for others. I want nothing more than to live in your will. I may not have much to offer...but I offer you all that I am. Here I am father, use me!

In jesus name, amen

Peace

He made all things new. When he died on calvalry he washed us white as snow. It reminds me of spring, flowers blooming, snow either melting or melted. Gardens and fields being planted, being prepared for a harvest. As I sit here on my porch tonight admiring the change of seasons and relaxing in gods presence, I feel a great sence of peace. Peace that could only come from jesus. I pray that all who read this would feel the same peace.

Your will, not mine.

Mark 14:27 NLT

On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

How easily scattered are you? We seem to be quick to run when them going gets a little tougher than we would like. When god calls us we often run in the other direction rather than say yes lord...I will do as you will.

Father I pray that I never run when you call. I pray that i run to you, not from you. I want to do your will, not mine!

Are you satisfied where you are?

Are you satisfied where you are or do you want More of his presence?

¹⁵  “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.

matthew 26:15

Thirty pieces of silver, according to the commentary i use, was the price of a slave.  A slave is defined as one bound in servitude as the property of a person or household.  Jesus came to this world as a baby, grew into a man who was betrayed, beaten, crucified died, buried, and rose again.  

some might find this strange.  why would god send his only son into the world for him to be treated worse than a slave in the end?  There is onlt one word to explain this...love!  as a parent i would do anything for my children.  i love them to no end.  I know as much as i love them god loves them more.  This is the reason Jesus was sent.  We all fall short...but Jesus stood in the gap on calvalry.  now we have a bridge to god!

that being said, i often wonder why people would choose the silver, rather than the savior?!  

Matthew 26:69-75

New Living Translation (NLT)

Peter Denies Jesus

⁶⁹ Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”

⁷⁰ But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

⁷¹ Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.^[a]”

⁷² Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.

⁷³ A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”

⁷⁴ Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.

⁷⁵ Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

I wonder why people would deny him.  Peter did it...we are still doing it today.  That person in the grocery line in front of you may need someone to be Jesus to them.  That person walking down the street may need someone to be Jesus to them.  How we treat others is a direct reflection of Jesus in us.  How we love others says a lot about if he is alive in us.  Seems like most would rather choose this world over serving him.  some would rather drink the sand, than living water!  Question is what are you drinking, water or sand?

John 4:9-14

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁹ The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans.^[a] She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

¹⁰ Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

¹¹ “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?¹² And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

¹³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. ¹⁴ But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

I implore  you to not drink the sand...you'll only stay dry and thirsty.  The devil comes with all his tricks...Rob the devil of his prize and drink from the living water and never thirst again!!  




Jesus culture - show me your glory

Dark and dry

Have you ever tried to walk through a dark room that is devoid of any light...not even light from clock? We stumble along, tripping over things, stumping our toes, falling down? We often curse the darkness as being at fault? When in reality only we are to blame. Every room has light...it just depends on how hard you look. The same can go for our lives. Each of us is either surrounded by and living in darkness...or living in the light.

The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord , you alone know.” (Ezekiel 37:1-3 NIV)

Does your life look like the valley of dry bones? Are there dry dusty bones all around? The sin in our lives resembles the dry bones.


Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord ! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord .’ ” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord , when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord .’ ” (Ezekiel 37:4-14 NIV)

There is only one solution for the dry bones of our lives. Jesus! He was sent as a child...who would grow into a man who would save the entire world on a cross! He was crucified...hen was dead...but there was no grave ever made that could hold him! Sins power over us died with him on the cross. Have dry bones in your life? Give them to the one who can make them alive again!

I for one am glad I serve a god that the grave couldn't hold!