We complain not because of our circumstances, but because we are complainers.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Let my Love Increase
To fully love people, I need to have the foundation of loving thoughts towards them.
Sunday, July 24, 2016
"Our Father"
Good Word for the day at church: "When God answers prayer, it's not just what's best for you but what is best for everyone."
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Mountain Rain: A Biography of James O. Fraser, pioneer misionary of china
Excerpts:
"Hoste (Frazer's director) was quick to point out that his time and energy was always saved by prayer and wasted with out it."
"I used to think that prayer should have the first place and teaching the second. I now feel that prayer should have the first, second and third place and teaching the fourth."
(p, 127, 188)
1982, OMF Books
"Hoste (Frazer's director) was quick to point out that his time and energy was always saved by prayer and wasted with out it."
"I used to think that prayer should have the first place and teaching the second. I now feel that prayer should have the first, second and third place and teaching the fourth."
(p, 127, 188)
1982, OMF Books
Friday, July 15, 2016
Friday, July 8, 2016
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Self Pity False Responsibility
I was observing tonight that self-pity seems to claim a greater burden of responsibility than is actual.
Crucifed Love of the Caregiver
Those black circles under my eyes?
They're not pretty to you,
but they're actually halos of love.
Not the mushy, starry eyed kind
but the love that says I'll do what it takes
to love her with all I have.
That fragrance you smell when I'm around?
It's not pleasant to you,
but it's actually a very expensive perfume.
It may smell like urine and not having showered enough,
but it's the smell of love that says I'll do anything
to love her even if I get soiled.
That messy house that you no longer visit?
It's not proper to you,
but it's actually a glorious cathedral.
Not the kind that has stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings,
but the cathedral of love that says I'll give my best
to love her most.
Those words that you hear?
They're not patient worded for you,
but they're actually beautiful music.
Not the kind with violins and drums
but the kind that says I'll do what it takes
to protect her heart and life from harm.
This love that I talk about?
It's not always doable, even for me,
but my effort to live it is heaven's joy.
And it's the kind that comes with angels' songs and tambourines
to the glory of one who is love to me.
They're not pretty to you,
but they're actually halos of love.
Not the mushy, starry eyed kind
but the love that says I'll do what it takes
to love her with all I have.
That fragrance you smell when I'm around?
It's not pleasant to you,
but it's actually a very expensive perfume.
It may smell like urine and not having showered enough,
but it's the smell of love that says I'll do anything
to love her even if I get soiled.
That messy house that you no longer visit?
It's not proper to you,
but it's actually a glorious cathedral.
Not the kind that has stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings,
but the cathedral of love that says I'll give my best
to love her most.
Those words that you hear?
They're not patient worded for you,
but they're actually beautiful music.
Not the kind with violins and drums
but the kind that says I'll do what it takes
to protect her heart and life from harm.
This love that I talk about?
It's not always doable, even for me,
but my effort to live it is heaven's joy.
And it's the kind that comes with angels' songs and tambourines
to the glory of one who is love to me.
Friday, May 20, 2016
Self Pity Pitfall
Right now is a season of great trial. And I realized yesterday that as soon as I started to walk down the road of self-pity, a lack of patience and teary-eyed frustration came right alongside me as well. As soon as I stopped the counting of my hardships, they went away. I'm in a battle of life and death right now and I can't afford to go down the roads that sap life. Lord, protect me from myself.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Self-Discipline
Self-discipline is not something I have, it's something I grow. Gifts are given, but fruit is grown.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Porn
Fantasy is the same as pornography, it's just that the screen is in the mind instead of on paper.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Can you guess what they have in common?
What do Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, the Israel nation, David and Jesus all have in common?
They were all refugees:
Abraham--Egypt, Philistia
Isaac--Philistia
Jacob-Egypt
Joseph--Egypt
Moses-Desert
Israel nation--Egypt, desert
David--Philistia
Jesus --Egypt
They were all refugees:
Abraham--Egypt, Philistia
Isaac--Philistia
Jacob-Egypt
Joseph--Egypt
Moses-Desert
Israel nation--Egypt, desert
David--Philistia
Jesus --Egypt
Thursday, October 8, 2015
5 Degrees of Separation
Fear leads to an attempt to control, which leads to anger (when control doesn't work), which leads to bitterness/resentment which leads to separation.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Saturday, September 12, 2015
If I could give advice to my younger self...
1) Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Strengthen relationships. Have fun. Life is more than just work. Play also. Become emotionally healthy. Time will reveal sin weakness. Don’t let sin enter in as it will bite hard and last long. Listen to your body. Listen to the Lord. Strengthen your heart.
2) Strengthen self-respect. Be your own best friend. Make your thoughts captive to love yourself because when you do, it will be foundational to loving others. Set boundaries. Say no. Then keep your boundaries. It’s Ok that people don’t like you or that they get angry with you. Don’t give in. Seasons of loneliness come and go. Setting healthy boundaries will give you healthier friends. Honor your body. Take care of it by the food you eat and the way you showcase it. You are worth investing $ into. Not just your spiritual life but your physical and emotional well-being also.
3) Let go of control and trust the Lord. He does things better than you can imagine. I realize you think you have let go of control, but when you feel helpless, unprotected, alone, oftentimes it’s because you’re scared because you’re in control and it doesn’t look good. These are warning lights to remove trust in yourself and trust in the Lord. It doesn’t mean things will turn out happy and good and like you want.
4) **Edited as some things just aren't for public knowledge.
5) Take every thought captive. Your life will go in the direction of your most dominant thought. There’s always a different way to perceive things. Perceive them in light of trusting the Lord.
6) Develop your forgiving muscle. You will need it your whole life. The stronger it is, the better life you will have.
7) Nurture hope. Take jobs that give you pleasure. You can do jobs you don’t like for a season, but eventually they will crush your heart. Find solutions not problems. Hope against hope in every situation. God loves it when we discover Him between the rock and a hard place.
8) Be devoted to prayer and the Word. Always. Be led by the Spirit. Discover the riches of the Spirit of God.
9) The great commandment came before the great commission. Learn to love. You will always hunger for the truth, but you must learn to love. God takes sons of thunder and turns them into brothers of love. Let him do that for you.
10) Life is relationships.
2) Strengthen self-respect. Be your own best friend. Make your thoughts captive to love yourself because when you do, it will be foundational to loving others. Set boundaries. Say no. Then keep your boundaries. It’s Ok that people don’t like you or that they get angry with you. Don’t give in. Seasons of loneliness come and go. Setting healthy boundaries will give you healthier friends. Honor your body. Take care of it by the food you eat and the way you showcase it. You are worth investing $ into. Not just your spiritual life but your physical and emotional well-being also.
3) Let go of control and trust the Lord. He does things better than you can imagine. I realize you think you have let go of control, but when you feel helpless, unprotected, alone, oftentimes it’s because you’re scared because you’re in control and it doesn’t look good. These are warning lights to remove trust in yourself and trust in the Lord. It doesn’t mean things will turn out happy and good and like you want.
4) **Edited as some things just aren't for public knowledge.
5) Take every thought captive. Your life will go in the direction of your most dominant thought. There’s always a different way to perceive things. Perceive them in light of trusting the Lord.
6) Develop your forgiving muscle. You will need it your whole life. The stronger it is, the better life you will have.
7) Nurture hope. Take jobs that give you pleasure. You can do jobs you don’t like for a season, but eventually they will crush your heart. Find solutions not problems. Hope against hope in every situation. God loves it when we discover Him between the rock and a hard place.
8) Be devoted to prayer and the Word. Always. Be led by the Spirit. Discover the riches of the Spirit of God.
9) The great commandment came before the great commission. Learn to love. You will always hunger for the truth, but you must learn to love. God takes sons of thunder and turns them into brothers of love. Let him do that for you.
10) Life is relationships.
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