Saturday, June 19, 2010
Blind Man's Attitude
I love John 9. The Pharisees keep questioning this guy wondering who has healed him. They even ask his parents, who are too afraid to say much of anything because if they do, they could get kicked out of the synagogue. Finally this guy is fed up and basically says, "Look, I've answered the question a bazillion times. I'm not sure who healed me but I do know that once I was blind but now I see." The Pharisees are mortified, tell him he has no education so he shouldn't be trying to teach them (nice arrogance) and kick him out. Later Jesus finds him, tells him who He is and it says the blind man "worshipped him". Love it.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Extravagant Love
1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
This verse stood out this week because of the word lavished. I looked it up. It means to expend or give in great amounts or without limit. How cool is that the Father loves us without limit when he calls us his children. The picture I get in my mind is of a love that is so grea tit can not be contained and it overflows the vessel that holds it and is poured out on those around. When we take the time to walk with God and listen to his instruction we are close to him and that love is poured out on us.
The second part of the verse has had an impact this week as well. I have had a few encounters that left me wondering "What were they thinking?" Now this would not have been so unexpected if it had been in relation to the kids since they regularly leave me wondering. These encounters were with adults and with the difference between how the world sees things and how we can see things when we pay attention to God's leading. The world did not know him. Those without hope did not and do not recognize God and they do not understand us. We do not fit in here because we have God with us and the hope they are missing. He is with us and is preparing something wonderful for us, after all he has already lavished us with love so what is to come is going to be amazing. We have the hope they are missing and we have the love he is pouring out on us.
1 John 3:2-3
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
This verse stood out this week because of the word lavished. I looked it up. It means to expend or give in great amounts or without limit. How cool is that the Father loves us without limit when he calls us his children. The picture I get in my mind is of a love that is so grea tit can not be contained and it overflows the vessel that holds it and is poured out on those around. When we take the time to walk with God and listen to his instruction we are close to him and that love is poured out on us.
The second part of the verse has had an impact this week as well. I have had a few encounters that left me wondering "What were they thinking?" Now this would not have been so unexpected if it had been in relation to the kids since they regularly leave me wondering. These encounters were with adults and with the difference between how the world sees things and how we can see things when we pay attention to God's leading. The world did not know him. Those without hope did not and do not recognize God and they do not understand us. We do not fit in here because we have God with us and the hope they are missing. He is with us and is preparing something wonderful for us, after all he has already lavished us with love so what is to come is going to be amazing. We have the hope they are missing and we have the love he is pouring out on us.
1 John 3:2-3
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Hebrews 13: 6 (The Message)
Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote,
God is there, ready to help;
I'm fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Wake up Call
After work yesterday, I was on my way to meet a friend to get a pedicure..... so a good day! Morning of adult conversations, no kids nattering back and forth..... on my way to some foot pampering......
so I was at a red light and waiting for it to turn green. When it turned green I slowly started to proceed, but thankfully did my usual check of left and right to make sure the coast was clear. I was barely into the intersection when a car coming from my right is slamming their brakes on, there is blue smoke. He stopped in front of me. He was going way over speed limit. Had I been in the intersection a 3 / 4 feet more I would have at least been clipped or hit on the passenger side. At his speed I have no illusions that I would walked away....
Very scary experience. After the pedicure (nice rider green!) I came home and hugged my kids and husband long..... I am not ready to die. I have so much to live for yet! I know Heaven will be awesome, but I will have eternity to enjoy it. I only have a moment to enjoy earth.
At church we have been talking about stress, and slowing down. I have been trying to enjoy the daily things with my family and not be so distracted by other things. For me this was a HUGE shaking, letting me know that I can do more to slow down, spend time with Jesus, family and friends..... I have this day.... I will rejoice in it!
When I do die though, what will my friends and family say about me. I truly want them to say that I was a person of faith. That I loved God, and it showed in my actions. The examples of people in Hebrews, Abraham . . . Isaac . . . Jacob . . . Joseph . . . Moses . . . Israel . . . Israelites . . . Rahab . . . Gideon . . . Barak . . . Samson . . . Jephthah . . . David . . . Samuel . . . the prophets . . . ~Hebrews 11:17-32 (The Message), these people encourage and remind me that it isn't perfection that God is seeking, but a willing heart.
so I was at a red light and waiting for it to turn green. When it turned green I slowly started to proceed, but thankfully did my usual check of left and right to make sure the coast was clear. I was barely into the intersection when a car coming from my right is slamming their brakes on, there is blue smoke. He stopped in front of me. He was going way over speed limit. Had I been in the intersection a 3 / 4 feet more I would have at least been clipped or hit on the passenger side. At his speed I have no illusions that I would walked away....
Very scary experience. After the pedicure (nice rider green!) I came home and hugged my kids and husband long..... I am not ready to die. I have so much to live for yet! I know Heaven will be awesome, but I will have eternity to enjoy it. I only have a moment to enjoy earth.
At church we have been talking about stress, and slowing down. I have been trying to enjoy the daily things with my family and not be so distracted by other things. For me this was a HUGE shaking, letting me know that I can do more to slow down, spend time with Jesus, family and friends..... I have this day.... I will rejoice in it!
When I do die though, what will my friends and family say about me. I truly want them to say that I was a person of faith. That I loved God, and it showed in my actions. The examples of people in Hebrews, Abraham . . . Isaac . . . Jacob . . . Joseph . . . Moses . . . Israel . . . Israelites . . . Rahab . . . Gideon . . . Barak . . . Samson . . . Jephthah . . . David . . . Samuel . . . the prophets . . . ~Hebrews 11:17-32 (The Message), these people encourage and remind me that it isn't perfection that God is seeking, but a willing heart.
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