Sunday, August 23, 2009

Fearless


I want to thank Michael Hyatt and the people at Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy of Max Lucado's new book, Fearless. I looked forward to reading this book because I had never read one of Lucado's book before.

I was pleased with the 15-chapter book. It is easy reading, but don't let that fool you. Lucado tackles a subject that plagues the lived of almost all of us--fear. The back covers reads:

"Imagine your life, wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart and extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, and doubt, what would remain? Envision a day, just one day, when you could trust more and fear less. Can you imagine your life without fear?"


Lucado does a great job of addressing fear in our lives--what is it, where it come from, and how do we defeat it. I wholeheartedly encouage people to read it and I also look forward to reading more of Lucado's books in the future.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Give Me Patience...Now



Have you ever felt like this...I know that I have.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

When God Does the Same Thing in Different Ways




I have been pondering something lately:

GOD CAN DO THE SAME THING IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

I think about Israel leaving Egypt. When they faced the obstacle of the Red Sea in front of them and the pursuing Egyptian army behind them, Moses raised his rod and God parted the Red Sea. They miracluously crossed over on dry ground (Exodus 14). Forty years later, though, they approached the Jordan River and needed to cross it. A new generation was on the scene and I am sure it would have been easy for them to think that their new leader, Joshua, could just raise some rod, stick, or any other inanimate object over the river, even though it was at flood stage. God COULD do it!

But God did NOT do it. The same thing needed to happen--an uncrossable obstacle/body of water needed to be crossed. Would God do it just like He did it before?

NO!

God told the priests to lead the way as they carried the Ark of the Covenant and actually step foot into the river. Then the river would back up and..."voilĂ "...cross over the imposing trial that stood in front of them (Joshua 3).

I think of me. My life. My family. God has done so many wonderful things. But He is not done yet! He may do of the same things, but how often do we think in our minds HOW he is doing to do certain things? I know I do.

Isn't it great, though, that God never changes, and He is not limited by our finite minds. He can do the same thing in different ways!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Great First Day of School



The kids had a great first day of school. God has faithful and were even pleased to hear that Cynthia's homeroom teacher at Beaufort Middle School gave a testimony to her class of knowing Jesus as her Savior!

First Day of School






I just got all of the kids off to their first day of school. The special ed. bus that picked Jacob up at 7:00 was supposed to come back for Kayla at 7:45. The bus didn't come back, but another came at 8:35. Her school is across town and starts at 8:30. Typical first day confusion dealing with school buses. Now ready to take my wife out to Palm and Moon Bagel Shop before heading out to run some important errands.

Here are some pics of the kids before school.

Friday, August 14, 2009

God's Faithfulness

I am pondering the fact that God is faithful. "God is faithful" 1 Corinithians 1:9). I hope that these verses and the video blesses you as you read and watch.

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 9:5)

Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. (1 Kings 8:5)

Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. (Psalm 36:5)

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 89:1)

He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. (Psalm 105:8)

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17)

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (Hebrews 6:18)

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)- Hebrews 10:23

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19)

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11)


Thursday, August 13, 2009

Fear Not


I just got back home from taking two of my daughters to their back-to-school night. Big deal you say! It is a big deal for them since it is the first time in their lives that they will be in public school. They are facing the fear of the unknown.

The fear of the unknown! It is easy to dismiss someone else's fear of the unknown. I find myself telling them, "It will be okay. You will be fine." I know that and I think they believe that too.

It can be quite different, though, when WE are the ones that are gripped by fear. Sometimes we just need to hear some encouraging words. Reminds me of God's words to Joshua after Moses died.

"There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:5-9)


I don't necessarily think that Joshua feared going into the Promised Land of Canaan (Numbers 14:6-9). I do think that he needed some "Fatherly" encouragement and a reminder from God. He was taking on a great task and taking over from a great leader.

I have heard it said that the Bible contains the command to not fear a total of 365 times--that's one a day. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", but "a command a day keeps fear away." May those of us who know Christ remember the words that God spoke to Moses "be strong and of a good courage"

Monday, August 10, 2009

16th Anniversary

Video I made for the 16th anniversary of my wife and me.

Your Own Jesus




I finished my advanced copy of Mark Hall's "Your Own Jesus" and loved it! The Casting Crowns frontman did an excellent job focusing in on THE issue of the church--a close, personal, intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark was effective in weaving in Scripture, stories, and illustrations as he used songs from "The Altar and the Door" to bring out the need for us to develop a walk with God. I can only hope that Mark does more writing and maybe does another book like this one using songs from Crowns' upcoming CD, "Until the Whole World Hears".

I highly recommend that you get this easy-to-read, yet powerful and effective book.