Friday, March 18, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
No Wind!
Well, it is difficult to kite board without wind. We were able to get in one good day, but since then we have had two days of no wind. The beach sure is pretty though! Reminds me of some churches I have been a part of.... everything is pretty, but no wind (Holy Spirit)! Lord, help us to build churches filled with Your Wind!
From Jim Cymbala and Fresh Wind Fresh Fire
You can tell how popular a church is by who comes on Sunday morning. You can tell how popular the pastor or evangelist is by who comes on Sunday night. But you can tell how popular Jesus is by who comes to the Prayer Meeting.
Prayer is the source of the Christian life, a Christian's lifeline.
God is not aloof. He says continually through the centuries, "I'll help you, I really will. When you are ready to throw up your hands -- throw them up to me."
Charles Spurgeon: "The best style of prayer is that which cannot be called anything else but a cry."
"The atmosphere of my Father's house," Jesus seems to say, "is to be prayer. The aroma around my Father must be that of people opening their hearts in worship and supplication... This is a house for calling on the Lord."
"I have seen people do more in people's lives during ten minutes of prayer than in ten of my sermons."
God says to us, "Pray, because I have all kinds of things for you; and when you ask, you will receive. I have all grace, and you live with scarcity. Come unto me, all you who labor. Why are you so rushed? Where are you running now? Everything you need, I have."
Prayer is the source of the Christian life, a Christian's lifeline.
God is not aloof. He says continually through the centuries, "I'll help you, I really will. When you are ready to throw up your hands -- throw them up to me."
Charles Spurgeon: "The best style of prayer is that which cannot be called anything else but a cry."
"The atmosphere of my Father's house," Jesus seems to say, "is to be prayer. The aroma around my Father must be that of people opening their hearts in worship and supplication... This is a house for calling on the Lord."
"I have seen people do more in people's lives during ten minutes of prayer than in ten of my sermons."
God says to us, "Pray, because I have all kinds of things for you; and when you ask, you will receive. I have all grace, and you live with scarcity. Come unto me, all you who labor. Why are you so rushed? Where are you running now? Everything you need, I have."
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Headed South
I am headed south to the Dominican Republic with my college-aged son on his Spring Break. We are flying to Puerto Plata and will drive over to Carabete and a place known as Kite Beach. Our plan is to continue to work on our kite boarding and we will be in Kite School all week (our father-son thing for the past two years!).
We had a long layover in the Miami Airport, and I was very impressed with the large number of mission teams I saw who were heading to Haiti. Youth groups, college-age young people, and numbers of older adults were either headed to Haiti or coming back from Haiti. As you probably know, Haiti is still riveted from the massive earthquake last year, and there is much need. It was quite inspirational and exciting to see so many folks committed to helping others in need.
The scenes and reports from Japan are still heart-breaking and devastating. Let us continue to pray for the people of Japan and those who are attempting to provide aid, food, medical assistance, housing, and most importantly, the Gospel of eternal life in Jesus. For those of us who are able, let us give of our resources to help the numerous Christian ministries attempting to provide aid to devastated people and broken people.
We had a long layover in the Miami Airport, and I was very impressed with the large number of mission teams I saw who were heading to Haiti. Youth groups, college-age young people, and numbers of older adults were either headed to Haiti or coming back from Haiti. As you probably know, Haiti is still riveted from the massive earthquake last year, and there is much need. It was quite inspirational and exciting to see so many folks committed to helping others in need.
The scenes and reports from Japan are still heart-breaking and devastating. Let us continue to pray for the people of Japan and those who are attempting to provide aid, food, medical assistance, housing, and most importantly, the Gospel of eternal life in Jesus. For those of us who are able, let us give of our resources to help the numerous Christian ministries attempting to provide aid to devastated people and broken people.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
From Billy Graham
Some day when the human race stands at the edge of the abyss of self-destruction, God will intervene. It may be tomorrow, it may be a thousand years from now, But the outcome is certain-- the future belongs to the Kingdom of God. Never forget: If you belong to the King, you are on the winning side. --- Billy Graham
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return...
Ash Wednesday. A day to remember our mortality -- that we are human; that we are sinners in need of repentance; that we will die. Sounds depressing. Sounds morbid. Sounds awful!!
But no. It is because of Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection that all this is changed. "But thanks be to God!! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). His grace appropriated to us by our faith (Ephesians 2:8,9) changes everything!
Let us approach this day with openness to hear from God about the impurities in our lives -- where we need to repent, where we need to allow Him to work on us and in us and through us, and where we need to humble our hearts before Him.
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and forever. Amen.
But no. It is because of Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection that all this is changed. "But thanks be to God!! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). His grace appropriated to us by our faith (Ephesians 2:8,9) changes everything!
Let us approach this day with openness to hear from God about the impurities in our lives -- where we need to repent, where we need to allow Him to work on us and in us and through us, and where we need to humble our hearts before Him.
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and forever. Amen.
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