Rain and leak repair

Sometimes In our lives a little rain falls.  It might seem like a gentle shower at times.  Still other times it may feel like a monsoon.  Take heart brothers and sisters, no matter how much rain falls, god is with us.  

God wants to put up an umbrella for us. He wants to take all our troubles, and all our worries.  Some burdens we were never ment to carry. Run to him and lay down all your worries.  Let his spirit flow into you like a mighty river. 

All that was in and available to Jesus is available to us...if we would only ask.  We may be but cracked broken vessels, but the Holy Spirit is the master at leak repair!  Call on him and let him repair your leaks!

http://youtu.be/3PN-BMHi5L8

The manger

The manger is so much more thuan the place where Jesus was born.  It's more than a place where farm animals eat.  It's the place!  The place where god almighty ended sin and death forever.  It's more than a Christmas gift, it's a year round gift for all who have strayed from the flock, all who crave what isn't of god.  When Jesus was born sin and death was delt 1 of 2 knockout blows.  Calvary was the second.  

When Jesus was born sin and death was put on notice, and no matter how evil tried to derail it Jesus put an end to sin with 1 cross and 3 nails.  

Jesus took our nails, can we live for him?  Can we surrender our all to him?  We should by rights all take his place on the cross, but while we were still dead in our sins he took the nails for us.

I for one surrender all I am and all I have to the conquerer of all, The Lord of lords!

Enriched

We Are Enriched

To those who say you can have Christ without giving anything up, Satan is deceiving you. Do you become part of your country’s military force by just saying you are? No, you join up, knowing that it may cost you your life. Before you ever put on a uniform, you must swear an oath, undergo extreme training, and submit yourself to superiors. The wonderful thing about Christianity is that when God’s grace saves, God’s Spirit moves in and makes the changes possible. Love for the world is replaced with love for God and the things that please Him. If this is not a burning desire, then a person has reason to question the authenticity of his or her faith.

Martin Luther said, “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.”** We can have faith in Jesus Christ because He sacrificed everything—His life’s blood. He suffered the pain of every sin that man could imagine . . . What richness there is in Him.

That’s not to say we should expect Jesus to make us rich . . . or beautiful . . . or give us whatever our hearts desire. Becoming a Christian means God will provide for our needs according to His standard, which is higher than ours. We exchange our wills for His will.

The Bible says that we are “enriched in everything by Him” (1 Corinthians 1:5).

**The Puritan Board, “Great Reformed Quotes,” Roderick E, February 11, 2009,

When Jesus dies on the cross we were all grafted into the vine.  He knows our sins and shortcomings  and grafted us in anyway.  Question is will we accept the greatest gift ever given or will we throw it away like old garbage?!  My prayer is that this Christmas season we will all embrace the gift of the cross.

http://youtu.be/hrgl9z3grKU

My way or gods way

“I don’t care what God says. I don’t care what Mom and Dad say. I don’t care what’s right or wrong. I’m a MAN. I’ve got desires. I’ve got needs. And besides, I want it!”


Sound familiar? Of course, some of the things you and I lust after aren’t even sexual. Maybe what you crave is that promotion, that raise, or just winning at work. Dreams of money and prestige start to consume your mind and overwhelm your soul. Or maybe it’s something material: that big house, that shiny new car, that sweet boat. You wake up thinking about them, try all day to figure out how you can get them, then drift off to sleep at night dreaming about them.

Whatever you lust after, it takes every ounce of restraint you can muster to hold yourself back from plowing headlong after it. Why? Because just like Samson, lust makes even the strongest man weak.

Get in the habit of pointing your feet away from temptation—and turning your eyes away from it. What are you doing going out looking for trouble anyway? Don’t put yourself in that position. Practice common sense and good judgment—unlike Samson. Know your weaknesses. And shore up your defenses.

The above was taken from an 11 day devotional on the bible app.  Ever accomplished something and said I'm glad I got that done....or I don't really need help I can do it on my own...or I want that new car, or computer or boat...the list could go on and on.  The truth is nothing we ever do or accomplish is a result of anything we did...god did the work, give him the credit.  Don't lust after things you don't need or lust after recognition for something god really deserves the glory for...Jesus did the ultimate work on Calvary, he paid the price all to him we owe!  All to him I owe!  Nothing I have accomplished in the past present or future is a result of anything I did, but is the spirit of the living god dwelling In me.  I long for his help and presence!  

Rest

We all carry baggage.  Everyday interactions, hurt feelings, betrayal, bullying, disappointment...the list is endless.  We often tend to try to be strong, especially us men.  We seem to think because we are men that our broad shoulders, and strong backs make for good load carrying....most would rather cripple over under the weight than admit we need help. 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)

One of my favorite things is to be still.  Often my internal alarm gets me awake really early most mornings weekday and weekend.  I love to just be still in the early morning hours.  

We try to rush and not take time to just stop and be still.  The baggage we carry can all to often rob is of that stillness.  We either are too burdened by the baggage or too proud to just be still and let the one called wonderful, mighty god, prince of peace take the heavy load.  But when we stop fighting and give god control....the beautiful rest we will have!

It began in a manger

And I happened in a most remarkable moment...a moment like no other.  Four through that segment of time a spectacular thing occurred.

God became a man. Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in the human womb.

The omnipotent, in one instant, became flesh and blood.  The one who was larger than the universe became a microscopic embryo.  And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl. 

God came near.

He came not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter.  Mary and Joseph were anything but royal.  Yet heaven entrusted it's greatest treasure to these simple parents.  It began in a manger, this momentous moment in time.  He looked anything but a king.  His face, prudish and red.  His cry still the helpless and piercing cry of a dependent baby.

Majesty in the midst of the mundane.  Holiness I. The filth of sheep manure and sweat.  This baby had overseen the universe.  These rags keeping him warm were the robes of eternity.  His golden throne room had been abandoned in favor of a dirty sheep pen.  And worshiping angels had been replaced with kind but bewildered shepherds.  

Curious, this royal throne room.  No tapestries covering the windows. No velvet garments on the courtiers.  No golden scepter or glittering crown. Curious, the sounds in the court.  Cows munching, hooves crunching, a mother humming, a babe nursing.

It could have begun anywhere, the story of the king.  But, curiously, it began In a manger.  Step into the doorway, peek through the window.  

He is here!

Max lucado