Ex 24:15-17
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. –NIV
Did you notice that??? SIX DAYS Moses waited and on the seventh day God showed up. Not six minutes, not six hours…six days.
If you are like me, it can be difficult to wait and scriptures like this can make you uncomfortable. Yet time and again I am reminded that God does not feel the need nor pressure to conform to our microwave society but rather often prefers to make me slow down and use the crock pot!
Delayed gratification is not highly valued in our now society. Quick, fast, easy is our motto. Yet quick is not always most effective, fast is not always most efficient and easy is not always excellence.
I am convinced that often times the answer to our hurried pace and frantic schedule is exactly what God made Moses do…WAIT. Wait until our mind quits racing, our bodies relax and our spirits are open so that we can HEAR what God has to say.
God will answer, just remember that His answers sometimes requires us to WAIT FIRST.
Isa 40:31
31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. –NKJV
Blessings,
Darren
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Follow the Directions
Prov 8:17
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. -NIV
As part of the 365 Challenge (reading through the Bible in one year) I am currently reading the book of Leviticus. Leviticus is a difficult read for many because of the seemingly endless tedious details of the offerings and civil laws given to the people of God to obey. It is certainly easy to get lost in the details but in the big picture God is setting the stage for His newly delivered people from Egypt to have relationship with Him and receive blessing from Him. The key was of course their obedience to His Way of doing things.
Isn’t that often our struggle with God? We love the relationship and blessings part, but on our terms, not His. There is something stubborn within the human race that constantly tries to domesticate God. Bring God down to our terms. Tame God until He fits our plans rather than us fitting into His. The truth is that we cannot use God – God is not a tool, or appliance or credit card. God’s singular purpose in delivering the Israelites out of Egypt was to establish a relationship with them where he could bless them and display His goodness through them. But that purpose could only be accomplished as the Israelites conformed to God, not God conforming to them.
How about you? Do you realize that God desires to have a relationship with you? God desires to fulfill His will in your life. Display His glory through you. Through Jesus Christ the door has been opened to a relationship with God. Here is the kicker…the relationship must be on God’s terms. The Good News is that just like to the Israelites in the book of Leviticus, God has given us ALL the directions we need…His Word.
The instructions are available. The path has been shown. God won’t conform to us – can’t be used or manipulated for our convenience BUT can always be found…if we will follow the instructions!
Jer 29:13-14
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - NIV
Have a GREAT week!
Blessings,
Darren
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. -NIV
As part of the 365 Challenge (reading through the Bible in one year) I am currently reading the book of Leviticus. Leviticus is a difficult read for many because of the seemingly endless tedious details of the offerings and civil laws given to the people of God to obey. It is certainly easy to get lost in the details but in the big picture God is setting the stage for His newly delivered people from Egypt to have relationship with Him and receive blessing from Him. The key was of course their obedience to His Way of doing things.
Isn’t that often our struggle with God? We love the relationship and blessings part, but on our terms, not His. There is something stubborn within the human race that constantly tries to domesticate God. Bring God down to our terms. Tame God until He fits our plans rather than us fitting into His. The truth is that we cannot use God – God is not a tool, or appliance or credit card. God’s singular purpose in delivering the Israelites out of Egypt was to establish a relationship with them where he could bless them and display His goodness through them. But that purpose could only be accomplished as the Israelites conformed to God, not God conforming to them.
How about you? Do you realize that God desires to have a relationship with you? God desires to fulfill His will in your life. Display His glory through you. Through Jesus Christ the door has been opened to a relationship with God. Here is the kicker…the relationship must be on God’s terms. The Good News is that just like to the Israelites in the book of Leviticus, God has given us ALL the directions we need…His Word.
The instructions are available. The path has been shown. God won’t conform to us – can’t be used or manipulated for our convenience BUT can always be found…if we will follow the instructions!
Jer 29:13-14
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - NIV
Have a GREAT week!
Blessings,
Darren
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Partly Cloudy or Partly Sunny?
****In light of the snow the last two weeks, I thought I would repost this devotion from a couple months ago...ENJOY!****
Partly Cloudy or Partly Sunny?The other day a friend of mine on Facebook made this statement. My comment was simply…partly sunny!
Much of life is about PERSPECTIVE.
To determine the effects of media on how people think, in a recent research study, individuals were divided into two groups. One group heard 5 minutes a day of negative news stories: car bombs, death, earthquakes, riots, etc. The other group heard more positive and uplifting stories. The results?
After listening to only five minutes of negative news the first group experienced four discernable effects:
1. they were more depressed than before
2. they believed the world was a negative place
3. they were less likely to help others
4. they began to believe what they heard would soon happen to them
What we think will determine the course of our life. Wrong thinking produces negative emotions which produces unwise behavior which results in devastating consequences. Likewise right thinking produces positive emotions which produces wise behavior resulting in fruitful consequences. The old adage is so often true…you are what you think!
Listen to Paul’s advice…
Phil 4:6-9
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. NIV
Each day we must choose what we will feed our mind. God wants us to have a POSITVIE mental diet! Thinking great thoughts means taking the incredible ability to focus on negatives and using it for more positive and truthful purposes.
In light of Paul’s advice, listen to the words of a prayer a friend sent me this week…
Jesus, in accordance with your Word, I choose to lay aside all my anxiety and take up your mind-bending peace instead. Supernatural tranquility will pervade my thoughts throughout this day as your Living Word renews my mind and way of thinking. I will purposefully and willfully choose to deliberate and ponder on things that are true, pure, noble, right, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. As a result, your peace will rule my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Never forget…It is always PARTLY SUNNY!
Blessings,
Darren
Partly Cloudy or Partly Sunny?The other day a friend of mine on Facebook made this statement. My comment was simply…partly sunny!
Much of life is about PERSPECTIVE.
To determine the effects of media on how people think, in a recent research study, individuals were divided into two groups. One group heard 5 minutes a day of negative news stories: car bombs, death, earthquakes, riots, etc. The other group heard more positive and uplifting stories. The results?
After listening to only five minutes of negative news the first group experienced four discernable effects:
1. they were more depressed than before
2. they believed the world was a negative place
3. they were less likely to help others
4. they began to believe what they heard would soon happen to them
What we think will determine the course of our life. Wrong thinking produces negative emotions which produces unwise behavior which results in devastating consequences. Likewise right thinking produces positive emotions which produces wise behavior resulting in fruitful consequences. The old adage is so often true…you are what you think!
Listen to Paul’s advice…
Phil 4:6-9
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. NIV
Each day we must choose what we will feed our mind. God wants us to have a POSITVIE mental diet! Thinking great thoughts means taking the incredible ability to focus on negatives and using it for more positive and truthful purposes.
In light of Paul’s advice, listen to the words of a prayer a friend sent me this week…
Jesus, in accordance with your Word, I choose to lay aside all my anxiety and take up your mind-bending peace instead. Supernatural tranquility will pervade my thoughts throughout this day as your Living Word renews my mind and way of thinking. I will purposefully and willfully choose to deliberate and ponder on things that are true, pure, noble, right, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. As a result, your peace will rule my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Never forget…It is always PARTLY SUNNY!
Blessings,
Darren
Friday, February 4, 2011
To busy to ENJOY?
I have lived in Oklahoma my whole life and this week is the largest snow fall that I can remember. To top it off it is February! I find myself asking this question…Ever think God is not as interested in our schedule as we are?
Have you been able to enjoy the “down time” that this snow fall has brought? Time inside, break from the routine, opportunity to do others things or even nothing at all? Time to enjoy today, unworried about tomorrow.
James 4:13-15
13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.- NIV
I submit there is something wrong if our lives and schedules are so busy that we can not pause for a few days. It is easy to live life so fast and furious that there is never time to enjoy the NOW. As I sit looking outside my office window, it is snowing again and I am in awe at the beauty. This marks the fifth day of snow and the first day I have made it back to the office. What have I been doing? Watching movies with my family, sledding with the kids, eating too much, odd and end projects.
Who told us that we cannot stop to enjoy the NOW? How long will it last? When will things be back to normal? Will we get more next week? I do not know. But this I do know…I am going to enjoy the MOMENT. Why? Because now is what there is to ENJOY.
Blessings,
Darren
Have you been able to enjoy the “down time” that this snow fall has brought? Time inside, break from the routine, opportunity to do others things or even nothing at all? Time to enjoy today, unworried about tomorrow.
James 4:13-15
13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.- NIV
I submit there is something wrong if our lives and schedules are so busy that we can not pause for a few days. It is easy to live life so fast and furious that there is never time to enjoy the NOW. As I sit looking outside my office window, it is snowing again and I am in awe at the beauty. This marks the fifth day of snow and the first day I have made it back to the office. What have I been doing? Watching movies with my family, sledding with the kids, eating too much, odd and end projects.
Who told us that we cannot stop to enjoy the NOW? How long will it last? When will things be back to normal? Will we get more next week? I do not know. But this I do know…I am going to enjoy the MOMENT. Why? Because now is what there is to ENJOY.
Blessings,
Darren
365 CHALLENGE - Pray, Give, Serve
In January we began the challenge of spending time with God every day in PRAYER and BIBLE READING in 2011! Now we look to the next step...
February Emphasis- GIVING
The heart of God is GIVING not getting. The life of a GIVER is completely different from the life of a taker. GIVERS take control of their life, become conduits of God’s blessings and are motivate by eternal rewards.
Matt 6:24
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. - NIV
GIVING breaks the tyranny of things off our life. How serious is Jesus about setting us FREE from the tyranny of money? 16 out of 38 of Jesus’ parables involved our use of money, over 2,000 verses of scriptures deal with money and 2 out of the 10 commandments deal with greed
Our heart in 2011 is to get serious about what God says in His Word! Reject the American Dream mentality that enslaves and experience the FREEDOM that Christ offers!!
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT MONEY?
EVERYTHING IS GOD’S
Ps 24:1
The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
-We are stewards NOT owners. Stewardship is the principle behind the TITHE (10%), obeying God to return back to Him what is HIS.
*We RETURN the tithe to God, we GIVE offerings
GOD USES MONEY AS A TEST
Luke 16:11
11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
-Faithfulness in the area of finances opens up our spiritual life to TRUE Blessings.
*Many believers struggle with heaven and eternal values because all their treasures are
stored up on earth and temporal things
GOD BLESSES THOSE HE CAN TRUST
2 Cor 9:10-11
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed…You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion,
-God looks for people who will SOW seeds of giving not hoard His blessings
Get serious about GIVING this year and EXPERIENCE FREEDOM. Freedom from this world and its standards in exchange for RADICALLY VALUING God’s Kingdom above all things!
HOW?
1. Make a decision to begin faithfully and consistently GIVING to God’s Kingdom with the goal of returning back to God a full TITHE
2. Take control of the other 90% - reduce debt, set a budget, seek help…BREAK FREE from bondage
3. Ask God where you can SOW seeds above the tithe to bring Him glory and build His Kingdom…this is where the real FUN begins!
JOIN the Challenge…YOU will never regret it!
Blessings,
Darren
February Emphasis- GIVING
The heart of God is GIVING not getting. The life of a GIVER is completely different from the life of a taker. GIVERS take control of their life, become conduits of God’s blessings and are motivate by eternal rewards.
Matt 6:24
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. - NIV
GIVING breaks the tyranny of things off our life. How serious is Jesus about setting us FREE from the tyranny of money? 16 out of 38 of Jesus’ parables involved our use of money, over 2,000 verses of scriptures deal with money and 2 out of the 10 commandments deal with greed
Our heart in 2011 is to get serious about what God says in His Word! Reject the American Dream mentality that enslaves and experience the FREEDOM that Christ offers!!
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT MONEY?
EVERYTHING IS GOD’S
Ps 24:1
The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
-We are stewards NOT owners. Stewardship is the principle behind the TITHE (10%), obeying God to return back to Him what is HIS.
*We RETURN the tithe to God, we GIVE offerings
GOD USES MONEY AS A TEST
Luke 16:11
11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
-Faithfulness in the area of finances opens up our spiritual life to TRUE Blessings.
*Many believers struggle with heaven and eternal values because all their treasures are
stored up on earth and temporal things
GOD BLESSES THOSE HE CAN TRUST
2 Cor 9:10-11
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed…You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion,
-God looks for people who will SOW seeds of giving not hoard His blessings
Get serious about GIVING this year and EXPERIENCE FREEDOM. Freedom from this world and its standards in exchange for RADICALLY VALUING God’s Kingdom above all things!
HOW?
1. Make a decision to begin faithfully and consistently GIVING to God’s Kingdom with the goal of returning back to God a full TITHE
2. Take control of the other 90% - reduce debt, set a budget, seek help…BREAK FREE from bondage
3. Ask God where you can SOW seeds above the tithe to bring Him glory and build His Kingdom…this is where the real FUN begins!
JOIN the Challenge…YOU will never regret it!
Blessings,
Darren
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