The Barbarian Way by Erwin Raphael McManus
"If you don't like the idea of being an innovator, that's fine. Just do whatever Jesus calls you to do the moment it is clear to you. Do not procrastinate; do not hesitate; do not deviate from whatever course of action He calls you to. But I want to warn you, the closer you walk with Christ, the greater the faith required. The more you trust Him, the more you'll risk on His behalf. The more you love Him, the more you will love others. If you genuinely embrace His sacrifice, you will joyfully embrace a sacrificial life. Your expectations of Jesus will change as your intimacy with Him deepens. When you begin to follow passionately after Jesus, you will inadvertently find yourself innovating. After all, Jesus is transforming lives, writing history, creating the future, and unleashing the kingdom of God. If you plan to keep step with Jesus the Pioneer, you better expect some changes." (p 53-54).
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Evangelism
Oh, the scary word! Christians and non-Christians alike have seen the ugliness that has come through ungodly fanatics. Yet, the only purpose for being on this earth is to GO and tell people about Jesus. Why is this hard?
I've been reading about the early church in Acts. I am moved to tears reading about Peter, Steven and Paul telling about the coming of Jesus, Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and the salvation that Jesus brings.
Peter, a disciple of Christ, denied him 3 times when he was crucified and then weeks later was proclaiming his life. Read Acts 2 and 10.
Steven was stoned to death just for talking about Christ. I cried when I read this (Acts 7:54-60)
54When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.'''
He was like Jesus, stating, "forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." That is love!
Then of course, Paul. He starts proclaiming Jesus to non-Jews and it transformed the world!
Will I have this boldness? Will I be able to tell people of the wonderful things that God has done in my life? Can I be so filled that I bubble over with God's love? I am thrilled about what God has done and have no hesitations to tell fellow believers, but what about those who do not believe?
God, you are so kind and compassionate, and so full of mercy. Thank you for guiding me deeper into Jesus. Holy Spirit, flow through me that your love and compassion would shine through me stronger than the weaknesses of my flesh. May I love people like you love. Show me your ways, Lord! Thank you for being God! Thank you for the life of Jesus!
I've been reading about the early church in Acts. I am moved to tears reading about Peter, Steven and Paul telling about the coming of Jesus, Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and the salvation that Jesus brings.
Peter, a disciple of Christ, denied him 3 times when he was crucified and then weeks later was proclaiming his life. Read Acts 2 and 10.
Steven was stoned to death just for talking about Christ. I cried when I read this (Acts 7:54-60)
54When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.'''
He was like Jesus, stating, "forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." That is love!
Then of course, Paul. He starts proclaiming Jesus to non-Jews and it transformed the world!
Will I have this boldness? Will I be able to tell people of the wonderful things that God has done in my life? Can I be so filled that I bubble over with God's love? I am thrilled about what God has done and have no hesitations to tell fellow believers, but what about those who do not believe?
God, you are so kind and compassionate, and so full of mercy. Thank you for guiding me deeper into Jesus. Holy Spirit, flow through me that your love and compassion would shine through me stronger than the weaknesses of my flesh. May I love people like you love. Show me your ways, Lord! Thank you for being God! Thank you for the life of Jesus!
God knows us--Ps 139
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 O LORD, you have searched meand you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
...
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
and lead me in the way everlasting.
I love this Psalm. God knows me. This can be scary since nothing is hidden from Him. He sees all of my ugly thoughts and unloving ways and yet loves me.
Thank you for your grace and mercy, Lord! Thank you for teaching me your ways and providing a loving Savior who I can learn from. Help me to love those around me with your love, for you are love! Thank you for caring about me intimately and knowing my heart more than I know myself. Teach me your ways Lord!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Source of Contention
The Bible
"The Bible- banned, burned, beloved. More widely read, more frequently attacked than any other book in history. Generations of intellectuals have attempted to discredit it; dictators of every age have outlawed it and executed those who read it. Yet soldiers carry it into battle believing it is more powerful than their weapons. Fragments of it smuggled into solitary prison cells have transformed ruthless killers into gentle saints." ~Charles Colson
The Bible has been a source of contention for how many years? Non-believers seem to seethe at the mouth when talking about Christianity, Christians, and "their" Bible. Why can't they just be complacent and not care? What is it about scripture that stirs people? Why do people criticize what they have not read. Does this make any sense? How can you criticize it if you know nothing about it or never read scripture?
I believe that Scripture is God breathed and is living. I know it stirs people in good and bad because it is real. People (believers and nonbelievers) must obey the truth to have a restored relationship with God, or suffer in the separation from Him who loves us. Many times throughout my Christian walk I have chosen to not obey and suffered in the separation from Him. I pray that God gives me the strength to obey so that I may have a deeper relationship with Him. I have true peace and happiness in my relationship with God through Jesus! Thank you Lord!!
James 1:21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path
"The Bible- banned, burned, beloved. More widely read, more frequently attacked than any other book in history. Generations of intellectuals have attempted to discredit it; dictators of every age have outlawed it and executed those who read it. Yet soldiers carry it into battle believing it is more powerful than their weapons. Fragments of it smuggled into solitary prison cells have transformed ruthless killers into gentle saints." ~Charles Colson
The Bible has been a source of contention for how many years? Non-believers seem to seethe at the mouth when talking about Christianity, Christians, and "their" Bible. Why can't they just be complacent and not care? What is it about scripture that stirs people? Why do people criticize what they have not read. Does this make any sense? How can you criticize it if you know nothing about it or never read scripture?
I believe that Scripture is God breathed and is living. I know it stirs people in good and bad because it is real. People (believers and nonbelievers) must obey the truth to have a restored relationship with God, or suffer in the separation from Him who loves us. Many times throughout my Christian walk I have chosen to not obey and suffered in the separation from Him. I pray that God gives me the strength to obey so that I may have a deeper relationship with Him. I have true peace and happiness in my relationship with God through Jesus! Thank you Lord!!
James 1:21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path
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