ListenDaily – 30 April 2010: Hear?
Let us continue the 1-2-3 challenge. In case you didn't see it on Monday, it is explained below.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3: 16-17
The second minute of the 1-2-3 says: "Open your Bible and read for 2 minutes. This is God talking to you through His Word. Listen to Him." The Scriptures include such a wide variety of stories, chronicles, parables, and lineages...how do we know where to start?
If you do not feel led to a particular book, try John. Read about the Jesus who was there at creation. Read of His miracles and His incredible compassion. Read about the Good Shepherd, about Jesus being the only Way to the Father. Read about the promise of the Holy Spirit.
These are God's words for you. Can you hear Him?
Questions:
1. What is your take on the Holy Scriptures?
2. Do you understand them to be God's specific words?
3. Do you understand them to be for you?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we read and hear. Jim.
THE 1-2-3 CHALLENGE:
Starting today, and then first thing tomorrow morning, I challenge you to listen to God, with this five minute exercise:
1) Do this as soon as you wake up. Set your clock a few minutes early if that is what you need to get up ahead of the household noise. Lay your Bible by your bed as a reminder.
2) Go to the quietest place in your house, outside, your kitchen, your bathroom...wherever.
3) Pray for 1 minute that God would speak to you. Audibly, out loud, ask Him to remove Satan from your presence for this time. Ask Him to remove distractions and mental clutter. During this time, do not ask Him for anything else, do not thank Him for anything else, do not pray for anyone else (but please find another prayer time for all these things).
4) Open your Bible and read for 2 minutes. This is God talking to you through His Word. Listen to Him.
5) Close your Bible and be silent for 3 minutes. Listen for Him. He may come as a thought, a nudge, an idea. For a while, He may seem hard to hear. There is so much clutter in our minds! Keep listening.
This may seem difficult. You will hear every creaking tree branch. You will hear every barking dog. But like Elijah's time in the cave, God is not in the tree branch, God is not in the dog. Persevere. Listen for the gentle whisper
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Give me a hundred preachers, and I care not a straw if they are clergy or laity, who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the gates of hell and set up the Kingdom of God on this earth." John Wesley
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
ListenDaily – 20 April 2010: On guard...
ListenDaily – 20 April 2010: On guard...
Let us continue the 1-2-3 challenge. In case you are just joining in, it is explained below. The first minute of the 1-2-3 includes asking God, audibly, out loud, to "remove distractions and mental clutter". There are some things you can do to minimize distractions:
a) Plan on doing it the next morning, before you go to bed.
b) Do it early, before anyone gets up, before you turn the TV on, etc...
c) Do it in the quietest place you have available.
d) Don't beat yourself up if you get distracted, remember there is a great force working against our prayer life, and has been for thousands of years. "Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. 'Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?' he asked Peter. 'Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak'." (Matt.26:40-41) That being said, "Take the helmet of salvation" (Eph.6:12) and put it on! Remember, that although there is a wily, ancient enemy, you are saved! As a helmet protects a soldier in earthly battle, let the knowledge -- the knowing -- that you are saved be assurance that your mind will be protected.
e) Finally, you've done all you can, now turn it over to God. "...in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil.4:6-7) Do you hear that? Your heart and mind, everything you love, everything you think about, put on guard by the peace of God in Christ.
Questions:
1. Do you try to minimize distractions when you pray?
2. Does the knowledge of your salvation help you focus?
3. How does it feel to know that God wants to help you focus?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we ask the only One who can help. Jim.
THE 1-2-3 CHALLENGE:
Starting today, and then first thing tomorrow morning, I challenge you to listen to God, with this five minute exercise:
Do this as soon as you wake up. Set your clock a few minutes early if that is what you need to get up ahead of the household noise. Lay your Bible by your bed as a reminder. Go to the quietest place in your house, outside, your kitchen, your bathroom...wherever.
1) Pray for 1 minute that God would speak to you. Audibly, out loud, ask Him to remove Satan from your presence for this time. Ask Him to remove distractions and mental clutter. During this time, do not ask Him for anything else, do not thank Him for anything else, do not pray for anyone else (but please find another prayer time for all these things).
2) Open your Bible and read for 2 minutes. This is God talking to you through His Word. Listen to Him.
3) Close your Bible and be silent for 3 minutes. Listen for Him. He may come as a thought, a nudge, an idea. For a while, He may seem hard to hear. There is so much clutter in our minds! Keep listening.
This may seem difficult. You will hear every creaking tree branch. You will hear every barking dog. But like Elijah's time in the cave, God is not in the tree branch, God is not in the dog. Persevere. Listen for the gentle whisper
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Give me a hundred preachers, and I care not a straw if they are clergy or laity, who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the gates of hell and set up the Kingdom of God on this earth." John Wesley
Let us continue the 1-2-3 challenge. In case you are just joining in, it is explained below. The first minute of the 1-2-3 includes asking God, audibly, out loud, to "remove distractions and mental clutter". There are some things you can do to minimize distractions:
a) Plan on doing it the next morning, before you go to bed.
b) Do it early, before anyone gets up, before you turn the TV on, etc...
c) Do it in the quietest place you have available.
d) Don't beat yourself up if you get distracted, remember there is a great force working against our prayer life, and has been for thousands of years. "Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. 'Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?' he asked Peter. 'Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak'." (Matt.26:40-41) That being said, "Take the helmet of salvation" (Eph.6:12) and put it on! Remember, that although there is a wily, ancient enemy, you are saved! As a helmet protects a soldier in earthly battle, let the knowledge -- the knowing -- that you are saved be assurance that your mind will be protected.
e) Finally, you've done all you can, now turn it over to God. "...in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil.4:6-7) Do you hear that? Your heart and mind, everything you love, everything you think about, put on guard by the peace of God in Christ.
Questions:
1. Do you try to minimize distractions when you pray?
2. Does the knowledge of your salvation help you focus?
3. How does it feel to know that God wants to help you focus?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we ask the only One who can help. Jim.
THE 1-2-3 CHALLENGE:
Starting today, and then first thing tomorrow morning, I challenge you to listen to God, with this five minute exercise:
Do this as soon as you wake up. Set your clock a few minutes early if that is what you need to get up ahead of the household noise. Lay your Bible by your bed as a reminder. Go to the quietest place in your house, outside, your kitchen, your bathroom...wherever.
1) Pray for 1 minute that God would speak to you. Audibly, out loud, ask Him to remove Satan from your presence for this time. Ask Him to remove distractions and mental clutter. During this time, do not ask Him for anything else, do not thank Him for anything else, do not pray for anyone else (but please find another prayer time for all these things).
2) Open your Bible and read for 2 minutes. This is God talking to you through His Word. Listen to Him.
3) Close your Bible and be silent for 3 minutes. Listen for Him. He may come as a thought, a nudge, an idea. For a while, He may seem hard to hear. There is so much clutter in our minds! Keep listening.
This may seem difficult. You will hear every creaking tree branch. You will hear every barking dog. But like Elijah's time in the cave, God is not in the tree branch, God is not in the dog. Persevere. Listen for the gentle whisper
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Give me a hundred preachers, and I care not a straw if they are clergy or laity, who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the gates of hell and set up the Kingdom of God on this earth." John Wesley
Friday, April 16, 2010
ListenDaily – 16 April 2010: Scary stuff?
ListenDaily – 16 April 2010: Scary stuff?
Let us continue the 1-2-3 challenge. In case you didn't see it on Monday, it is explained below.
The first minute of the 1-2-3 includes asking God, audibly, out loud, "to remove Satan from your presence for this time".
I am interested - really interested; how many people - how many Christians - believe Satan is a real being, who involves himself in the activities and people of this world.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12
Is this real for you? I firmly believe that in order to develop your ability to hear God, you must come to a realization that a real force is working against you. This is not scary stuff, if you face it. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Satan cannot take you away from God, but he can distract you from hearing God's voice, or perverting what God said. (Think Adam and Eve...)
There is great danger in ignoring the fact that Satan is real and wants to keep you from hearing God.
Raise your hand.
Ask for help.
"I lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2
Questions:
1. Do you believe in an actual Satan?
2. If so, do you believe he works to distract people from God?
3. If so, do you have enough humanly resources to overcome him? Are you willing to try this1-2-3 experience to help?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we ask the only One who can help. Jim.
THE 1-2-3 CHALLENGE:
Starting today, and then first thing tomorrow morning, I challenge you to listen to God, with this five minute exercise:
1) Do this as soon as you wake up. Set your clock a few minutes early if that is what you need to get up ahead of the household noise. Lay your Bible by your bed as a reminder.
2) Go to the quietest place in your house, outside, your kitchen, your bathroom...wherever.
3) Pray for 1 minute that God would speak to you. Audibly, out loud, ask Him to remove Satan from your presence for this time. Ask Him to remove distractions and mental clutter. During this time, do not ask Him for anything else, do not thank Him for anything else, do not pray for anyone else (but please find another prayer time for all these things).
4) Open your Bible and read for 2 minutes. This is God talking to you through His Word. Listen to Him.
5) Close your Bible and be silent for 3 minutes. Listen for Him. He may come as a thought, a nudge, an idea. For a while, He may seem hard to hear. There is so much clutter in our minds! Keep listening.
This may seem difficult. You will hear every creaking tree branch. You will hear every barking dog. But like Elijah's time in the cave, God is not in the tree branch, God is not in the dog. Persevere. Listen for the gentle whisper
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Give me a hundred preachers, and I care not a straw if they are clergy or laity, who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the gates of hell and set up the Kingdom of God on this earth." John Wesley
Let us continue the 1-2-3 challenge. In case you didn't see it on Monday, it is explained below.
The first minute of the 1-2-3 includes asking God, audibly, out loud, "to remove Satan from your presence for this time".
I am interested - really interested; how many people - how many Christians - believe Satan is a real being, who involves himself in the activities and people of this world.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12
Is this real for you? I firmly believe that in order to develop your ability to hear God, you must come to a realization that a real force is working against you. This is not scary stuff, if you face it. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Satan cannot take you away from God, but he can distract you from hearing God's voice, or perverting what God said. (Think Adam and Eve...)
There is great danger in ignoring the fact that Satan is real and wants to keep you from hearing God.
Raise your hand.
Ask for help.
"I lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2
Questions:
1. Do you believe in an actual Satan?
2. If so, do you believe he works to distract people from God?
3. If so, do you have enough humanly resources to overcome him? Are you willing to try this1-2-3 experience to help?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we ask the only One who can help. Jim.
THE 1-2-3 CHALLENGE:
Starting today, and then first thing tomorrow morning, I challenge you to listen to God, with this five minute exercise:
1) Do this as soon as you wake up. Set your clock a few minutes early if that is what you need to get up ahead of the household noise. Lay your Bible by your bed as a reminder.
2) Go to the quietest place in your house, outside, your kitchen, your bathroom...wherever.
3) Pray for 1 minute that God would speak to you. Audibly, out loud, ask Him to remove Satan from your presence for this time. Ask Him to remove distractions and mental clutter. During this time, do not ask Him for anything else, do not thank Him for anything else, do not pray for anyone else (but please find another prayer time for all these things).
4) Open your Bible and read for 2 minutes. This is God talking to you through His Word. Listen to Him.
5) Close your Bible and be silent for 3 minutes. Listen for Him. He may come as a thought, a nudge, an idea. For a while, He may seem hard to hear. There is so much clutter in our minds! Keep listening.
This may seem difficult. You will hear every creaking tree branch. You will hear every barking dog. But like Elijah's time in the cave, God is not in the tree branch, God is not in the dog. Persevere. Listen for the gentle whisper
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Give me a hundred preachers, and I care not a straw if they are clergy or laity, who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the gates of hell and set up the Kingdom of God on this earth." John Wesley
Thursday, April 15, 2010
ListenDaily – 15 April 2010: Dealing With Spiritual ADD and the pest sitting behind you.
ListenDaily – 15 April 2010: Dealing With Spiritual ADD and the pest sitting behind you.
Thanks Diane. This Spiritual ADD idea rings truer and truer every time I think about it, and from the many conversations I've had about it, it appears to be epidemic -perhaps endemic.
So after two days when I've been so busy I haven't read email let alone written any (ironic, huh?), let us continue the 1-2-3 challenge. In case you didn't see it on Monday, it is explained below.
The first minute of the 1-2-3 includes asking God, audibly, out loud, "to remove Satan from your presence for this time".
How does this strike you? Is it a little weird for you?
Imagine that you are a third grade teacher, with a student who actually suffers from a disorder affecting his ability to focus. That's enough of a problem by itself, is it not? But imagine there is another child, who spends all of his time trying to distract the first. Pecking him on the shoulder, whispering, kicking him under the desk. There is no way the first child, already with an attention problem, could possibly focus! But if he really wants to do the right thing, he will ask the teacher for help, and a loving teacher will do whatever is right for that situation.
You cannot pay attention on your own
Ask for help.
I lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7-8
If your prayer life improves, Satan is in trouble. He will do his best to distract you.
Ask for help.
If a loving teacher will do the right thing for a student, how much more will your loving Father do for you?
Questions:
1. First, I guess I have to ask if you believe in Satan?
2. If so, do you believe he works to distract people from God?
3. If so, do you have enough humanly resources to overcome him? Are you willing to try this1-2-3 experience to help?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we ask the only One who can help. Jim.
THE 1-2-3 CHALLENGE:
Starting today, and then first thing tomorrow morning, I challenge you to listen to God, with this five minute exercise:
1) Do this as soon as you wake up. Set your clock a few minutes early if that is what you need to get up ahead of the household noise. Lay your Bible by your bed as a reminder.
2) Go to the quietest place in your house, outside, your kitchen, your bathroom...wherever.
3) Pray for 1 minute that God would speak to you. Audibly, out loud, ask Him to remove Satan from your presence for this time. Ask Him to remove distractions and mental clutter. During this time, do not ask Him for anything else, do not thank Him for anything else, do not pray for anyone else (but please find another prayer time for all these things).
4) Open your Bible and read for 2 minutes. This is God talking to you through His Word. Listen to Him.
5) Close your Bible and be silent for 3 minutes. Listen for Him. He may come as a thought, a nudge, an idea. For a while, He may seem hard to hear. There is so much clutter in our minds! Keep listening.
This may seem difficult. You will hear every creaking tree branch. You will hear every barking dog. But like Elijah's time in the cave, God is not in the tree branch, God is not in the dog. Persevere. Listen for the gentle whisper
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Each time, before you Intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory.
Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people.
Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!"
Andrew Murray
Thanks Diane. This Spiritual ADD idea rings truer and truer every time I think about it, and from the many conversations I've had about it, it appears to be epidemic -perhaps endemic.
So after two days when I've been so busy I haven't read email let alone written any (ironic, huh?), let us continue the 1-2-3 challenge. In case you didn't see it on Monday, it is explained below.
The first minute of the 1-2-3 includes asking God, audibly, out loud, "to remove Satan from your presence for this time".
How does this strike you? Is it a little weird for you?
Imagine that you are a third grade teacher, with a student who actually suffers from a disorder affecting his ability to focus. That's enough of a problem by itself, is it not? But imagine there is another child, who spends all of his time trying to distract the first. Pecking him on the shoulder, whispering, kicking him under the desk. There is no way the first child, already with an attention problem, could possibly focus! But if he really wants to do the right thing, he will ask the teacher for help, and a loving teacher will do whatever is right for that situation.
You cannot pay attention on your own
Ask for help.
I lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7-8
If your prayer life improves, Satan is in trouble. He will do his best to distract you.
Ask for help.
If a loving teacher will do the right thing for a student, how much more will your loving Father do for you?
Questions:
1. First, I guess I have to ask if you believe in Satan?
2. If so, do you believe he works to distract people from God?
3. If so, do you have enough humanly resources to overcome him? Are you willing to try this1-2-3 experience to help?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we ask the only One who can help. Jim.
THE 1-2-3 CHALLENGE:
Starting today, and then first thing tomorrow morning, I challenge you to listen to God, with this five minute exercise:
1) Do this as soon as you wake up. Set your clock a few minutes early if that is what you need to get up ahead of the household noise. Lay your Bible by your bed as a reminder.
2) Go to the quietest place in your house, outside, your kitchen, your bathroom...wherever.
3) Pray for 1 minute that God would speak to you. Audibly, out loud, ask Him to remove Satan from your presence for this time. Ask Him to remove distractions and mental clutter. During this time, do not ask Him for anything else, do not thank Him for anything else, do not pray for anyone else (but please find another prayer time for all these things).
4) Open your Bible and read for 2 minutes. This is God talking to you through His Word. Listen to Him.
5) Close your Bible and be silent for 3 minutes. Listen for Him. He may come as a thought, a nudge, an idea. For a while, He may seem hard to hear. There is so much clutter in our minds! Keep listening.
This may seem difficult. You will hear every creaking tree branch. You will hear every barking dog. But like Elijah's time in the cave, God is not in the tree branch, God is not in the dog. Persevere. Listen for the gentle whisper
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Each time, before you Intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory.
Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people.
Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!"
Andrew Murray
Friday, April 9, 2010
ListenDaily – 09 April 2010: Discernment – a checklist: Step 1
ListenDaily – 09 April 2010: Discernment – a checklist: Step 1
We have been talking about discernment, sometimes using the word, sometimes not, for several days now. It was prompted by several conversations and has led to several more, via phone, email, Facebook, and yes, even face-to-face. This is a struggle for many of us. How do we know what God wants us to do? How do we determine if a specific activity is what God wants? How do we know if struggles are from the enemy or if they are God's ways of saying "Stop!"?
I'm going to refer to, what I like to call, Jim's Desert Island Theology.
Let's suppose that you were shipwrecked, all alone, on a desert island. No other people, no Bible, no church.
Could you be a Christian? If you could not go to church, could you be a Christian? If you could not read the Bible, could you be a Christian? If you could not do good works for other people, could you be a Christian? Could you? Absolutely!
If you were the only person on that island you would still not be alone. God said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) God is always with you, and wants to communicate with you. If we are not hearing from God, it is not because He is withholding His words from willing ears, it is because we are somehow closing ourselves off from Him. When Paul said to "pray without ceasing" he did not mean that we should be on our knees, eyes closed, hands folded, talking to God. Prayer is talking, and listening, to God. It is awareness of His presence.
To pray without ceasing means to be always aware of God's presence. Always. All the time. God present with you.
Pray, church...pray.
NEXT: Step 2...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What is prayer, to you?
2. When you pray, what do you do?
3. How do you pray without ceasing?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Prayerlessness is a sin." Corrie Ten Boom
"Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him." Hudson Taylor
We have been talking about discernment, sometimes using the word, sometimes not, for several days now. It was prompted by several conversations and has led to several more, via phone, email, Facebook, and yes, even face-to-face. This is a struggle for many of us. How do we know what God wants us to do? How do we determine if a specific activity is what God wants? How do we know if struggles are from the enemy or if they are God's ways of saying "Stop!"?
I'm going to refer to, what I like to call, Jim's Desert Island Theology.
Let's suppose that you were shipwrecked, all alone, on a desert island. No other people, no Bible, no church.
Could you be a Christian? If you could not go to church, could you be a Christian? If you could not read the Bible, could you be a Christian? If you could not do good works for other people, could you be a Christian? Could you? Absolutely!
If you were the only person on that island you would still not be alone. God said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) God is always with you, and wants to communicate with you. If we are not hearing from God, it is not because He is withholding His words from willing ears, it is because we are somehow closing ourselves off from Him. When Paul said to "pray without ceasing" he did not mean that we should be on our knees, eyes closed, hands folded, talking to God. Prayer is talking, and listening, to God. It is awareness of His presence.
To pray without ceasing means to be always aware of God's presence. Always. All the time. God present with you.
Pray, church...pray.
NEXT: Step 2...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What is prayer, to you?
2. When you pray, what do you do?
3. How do you pray without ceasing?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Prayerlessness is a sin." Corrie Ten Boom
"Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him." Hudson Taylor
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
ListenDaily – 07 April 2010: Change?
ListenDaily – 07 April 2010: Change?
"And Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” {(Matthew 18:3)
Compared to our Father, our knowing and understanding is like a little child's compared to their father.
When we accept Christ, there is a change that has to take place, and I am not speaking here about behavior, but perspective. Jesus said we must “change” (from the Greek, “turn”) and “become like little children.
A child expects guidance, expects protection, and expects to be obedient or experience consequences. And a child knows adults know more; and that goes beyond an intellectual thought – it affects their behavior. It causes them to expect the guidance, protection, and so on.
As I have said recently, all of us would say that God knows more than we do – but is it more than an intellectual assent? Does that knowledge affect our behavior? Do we expect God to guide and protect us? Do we expect that we must be obedient or experience consequences? Do we humble ourselves, see ourselves as children?
"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
NEXT: Discernment – a checklist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Is “Father”, to you, more than a title for God?
2. How does that, or could it, affect seeing what God wants for you?
3. Can you pray, right now, for God to show you, specifically, what He wants you to do?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Beware of reasoning about God's Word - obey It." Oswald Chambers
"And Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” {(Matthew 18:3)
Compared to our Father, our knowing and understanding is like a little child's compared to their father.
When we accept Christ, there is a change that has to take place, and I am not speaking here about behavior, but perspective. Jesus said we must “change” (from the Greek, “turn”) and “become like little children.
A child expects guidance, expects protection, and expects to be obedient or experience consequences. And a child knows adults know more; and that goes beyond an intellectual thought – it affects their behavior. It causes them to expect the guidance, protection, and so on.
As I have said recently, all of us would say that God knows more than we do – but is it more than an intellectual assent? Does that knowledge affect our behavior? Do we expect God to guide and protect us? Do we expect that we must be obedient or experience consequences? Do we humble ourselves, see ourselves as children?
"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
NEXT: Discernment – a checklist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Is “Father”, to you, more than a title for God?
2. How does that, or could it, affect seeing what God wants for you?
3. Can you pray, right now, for God to show you, specifically, what He wants you to do?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Beware of reasoning about God's Word - obey It." Oswald Chambers
Friday, April 2, 2010
ListenDaily – 02 April 2010: A lesson in humility, in recognition of the day
ListenDaily – 02 April 2010: A lesson in humility, in recognition of the day
"And Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 18:3-4)
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
(Philippians 2:5-8)
"Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child..."
We have been talking about work, God-work, church-work, whatever, and how we discern what to do and what not to do. Sometimes, not always -- but sometimes, the problem is one of humility. Are we willing to humble ourselves as Jesus said to do. Are we willing to recognize that, in comparison to the mind of God, we are but children? Compared to our Father, our knowing and understanding is like a little child's compared to their father.
Can we accept that? Can we be that humble?
Consider our role model, who "...humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
On this Good Friday, may we recognize Christ's act of humility, by committing an act of humility ourselves. Let us humble ourselves in the light of the Truth, and allow the fullness of God's plan for us to pour in.
NEXT: Through a child's eyes,continued.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. We all would readily admit that God knows much more than we do. But is it difficult to acknowledge that with all we have learned, experienced, and accomplished, that we are still lacking, and very much so, in what it takes to live?
2. How does that, or could it, affect seeing what God wants for you?
3. Can you pray, right now, for God to show you, specifically, what He wants you to do?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Beware of reasoning about God's Word - obey It." Oswald Chambers
Pastor Jim Dorton
"And Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 18:3-4)
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
(Philippians 2:5-8)
"Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child..."
We have been talking about work, God-work, church-work, whatever, and how we discern what to do and what not to do. Sometimes, not always -- but sometimes, the problem is one of humility. Are we willing to humble ourselves as Jesus said to do. Are we willing to recognize that, in comparison to the mind of God, we are but children? Compared to our Father, our knowing and understanding is like a little child's compared to their father.
Can we accept that? Can we be that humble?
Consider our role model, who "...humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
On this Good Friday, may we recognize Christ's act of humility, by committing an act of humility ourselves. Let us humble ourselves in the light of the Truth, and allow the fullness of God's plan for us to pour in.
NEXT: Through a child's eyes,continued.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. We all would readily admit that God knows much more than we do. But is it difficult to acknowledge that with all we have learned, experienced, and accomplished, that we are still lacking, and very much so, in what it takes to live?
2. How does that, or could it, affect seeing what God wants for you?
3. Can you pray, right now, for God to show you, specifically, what He wants you to do?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Beware of reasoning about God's Word - obey It." Oswald Chambers
Pastor Jim Dorton
Thursday, April 1, 2010
ListenDaily – 01 April 2010: Like a child...
ListenDaily – 01 April 2010: Like a child...
"And Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 18:3-4)
OK, so you remember growing up, some of the stages you went through. And if you, as an adult, have seen someone else grow up, you can see what they have been through. Little children have complete faith and trust in their parents. Teenagers often think those same parents know nothing. As they mature into adulthood, they realize the true wisdom their parents really had, if they really mature.
Jesus said "You must be born again." (John 3:7) And it follows in the Scriptures that once one is born again, meaning spiritually, that they must also mature again, also spiritually. I think we sometimes get stuck in, or revert to, a sort of immature spiritual mentality, where we do not acknowledge by the way we live that God is superior to us. Oh, we would never say we are smarter than God, but actions speak louder than words.
We send a lot of time figuring things out for ourselves. There might be a nominal prayer for help, but we often get up off our knees and go off on in our own wisdom and strength. We look at situations through human eyes and leave no room for Heavenly intervention. Is it our egos that will not accept that there exists a mind so much greater than ours? God desires to lead us, but we must see Him as a child sees a father, the incapable looking to the completely capable, and allow Him to operate.
A friend of mine, Luke Weaver, who pastors in Harrisonburg, Va., shared Isaiah 50:10-11 with me recently, :
Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.
TOMORROW(I though it would be today): Through a child's eyes,continued.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do your actions show that you completely need God in every area of your life?
2. How does that, or could it, affect seeing what God wants for you?
3. Can you pray, right now, for God to show you, specifically, what He wants you to do?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Beware of reasoning about God's Word - obey It." Oswald Chambers
"And Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 18:3-4)
OK, so you remember growing up, some of the stages you went through. And if you, as an adult, have seen someone else grow up, you can see what they have been through. Little children have complete faith and trust in their parents. Teenagers often think those same parents know nothing. As they mature into adulthood, they realize the true wisdom their parents really had, if they really mature.
Jesus said "You must be born again." (John 3:7) And it follows in the Scriptures that once one is born again, meaning spiritually, that they must also mature again, also spiritually. I think we sometimes get stuck in, or revert to, a sort of immature spiritual mentality, where we do not acknowledge by the way we live that God is superior to us. Oh, we would never say we are smarter than God, but actions speak louder than words.
We send a lot of time figuring things out for ourselves. There might be a nominal prayer for help, but we often get up off our knees and go off on in our own wisdom and strength. We look at situations through human eyes and leave no room for Heavenly intervention. Is it our egos that will not accept that there exists a mind so much greater than ours? God desires to lead us, but we must see Him as a child sees a father, the incapable looking to the completely capable, and allow Him to operate.
A friend of mine, Luke Weaver, who pastors in Harrisonburg, Va., shared Isaiah 50:10-11 with me recently, :
Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.
TOMORROW(I though it would be today): Through a child's eyes,continued.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do your actions show that you completely need God in every area of your life?
2. How does that, or could it, affect seeing what God wants for you?
3. Can you pray, right now, for God to show you, specifically, what He wants you to do?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Beware of reasoning about God's Word - obey It." Oswald Chambers
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