If you have your priorities right nothing can be to bad. However with that said "if" could possibly be the biggest word in the English language. People today are faced with many different challenges, health, financial, relational, emotional, vocational, the list goes on and on. When these things strike some times we ask why God why? That is if we are are inclined to believe that God does exist as some claim they don't. If we place all of our faith in the things in the previous list we are going to really be disappointed if not devastated. We have to get our priorities strait.
Going back to the title of today's blog no matter what you are going through it can't be that bad if. If again being the key word. If Christ is your number one priority you win. He has not forgot about you or forsaken you what ever you are going through believe it or not he will turn it into good. Romans 8: 35-37 makes this very clear.
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Overwhelming victory is yours. But only through Christ.
Today consider Christ, consider what he has done for you or if you ask him into your life consider what he can do for you and then remember it can be that bad "if" you have placed your faith in Christ.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Watch out for falling rock.
Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.
When you read this sentence what do you think about? I think about a sign along side highway 99 in Burlington. The sign says watch out for falling rock. The question is do I do that? If anything I tend to look for a rock that has already fallen but I do not look out for the one coming from above that could injure or kill me.
The opening line in today's blog is not just a sentence but it is a verse from the Bible it's Matthew 21:44 it is talking of course about Jesus being the cornerstone the rock that everything is based off of. Here it states very clearly that if you don't have the correct understanding of Jesus the consequences are dire. Just like me and the falling rock sign don't just look at what has already happened look out for what could happen if you don't have a relationship with Jesus.
If you do have a relationship with Jesus constantly remind yourself what he has done for you on the cross, that what he did for you was more than you deserved. Be grateful that he loved you enough to go through it for you and praise him for it.
When you read this sentence what do you think about? I think about a sign along side highway 99 in Burlington. The sign says watch out for falling rock. The question is do I do that? If anything I tend to look for a rock that has already fallen but I do not look out for the one coming from above that could injure or kill me.
The opening line in today's blog is not just a sentence but it is a verse from the Bible it's Matthew 21:44 it is talking of course about Jesus being the cornerstone the rock that everything is based off of. Here it states very clearly that if you don't have the correct understanding of Jesus the consequences are dire. Just like me and the falling rock sign don't just look at what has already happened look out for what could happen if you don't have a relationship with Jesus.
If you do have a relationship with Jesus constantly remind yourself what he has done for you on the cross, that what he did for you was more than you deserved. Be grateful that he loved you enough to go through it for you and praise him for it.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Reading Romans 1 today and came across verse 25 it says:
25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen
For some reason it reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows American Pickers. It is a show on the History channel about two guys from Iowa who drive around the country and buy and sell things. They actually have a business in Le Claire and now this show. For them to be successful they have to know the value of things before they buy them so when the sell them they can turn a profit and therefore make a living.
Where this verse comes in is we must not just know the the truth, but we must know the value of the truth so we do not trade it in for a lie. I am sure that there are people out there who try and sell Mike and Frank some bogus goods to make a quick buck. Unfortunately it's up to them to be able to spot a fake, or a worthless item. The same thing goes for us. Satan is always trying to sell us some kind of knock off item and it is up to us not to trade the truth for a lie. Just like Mike and Frank we have to do our homework to be able to know the truth. How do we do this? It is very simple actually. There is a truth text book, a guide to the truth, the truth for dummies. It's called the Bible. The Bible is all about the truth. Read it, study it, discuss it, pray about what you have just read and then you will know the truth. Then you will not be fooled into worshiping creation. But the Creator himself. Because if you go on and read the rest of chapter 1 of Romans there are some real consequences for making that mistake.
25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen
For some reason it reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows American Pickers. It is a show on the History channel about two guys from Iowa who drive around the country and buy and sell things. They actually have a business in Le Claire and now this show. For them to be successful they have to know the value of things before they buy them so when the sell them they can turn a profit and therefore make a living.
Where this verse comes in is we must not just know the the truth, but we must know the value of the truth so we do not trade it in for a lie. I am sure that there are people out there who try and sell Mike and Frank some bogus goods to make a quick buck. Unfortunately it's up to them to be able to spot a fake, or a worthless item. The same thing goes for us. Satan is always trying to sell us some kind of knock off item and it is up to us not to trade the truth for a lie. Just like Mike and Frank we have to do our homework to be able to know the truth. How do we do this? It is very simple actually. There is a truth text book, a guide to the truth, the truth for dummies. It's called the Bible. The Bible is all about the truth. Read it, study it, discuss it, pray about what you have just read and then you will know the truth. Then you will not be fooled into worshiping creation. But the Creator himself. Because if you go on and read the rest of chapter 1 of Romans there are some real consequences for making that mistake.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Credit where credit is due
I was reminded again this weekend of God's grace. I was able to spend the whole weekend with my family under one roof. I think of all of the broken families in the country today, all of the families that are scattered across the country, families who have had members taken from them too early, and families who just don't like each other very much. When you sit back and realize that you can not really control all of or really any of these things you can only point to God's grace and I have been blessed greatly by God. I saw a saying in a store this weekend that said that "Our family may not have it all together but together we have it all." I do not know the originators intention but when I read it I don't think of myself as the head of my family, I think of God as the father of my family and with that I am truly grateful and then yes, then we do have it all. I am by no means saying that everything is perfect but what I am saying is that when you put him first things like patience, forgiveness, discernment, and unconditional love come much easier. As much as I enjoyed my entire weekend I can not take any credit for it. All I can do is give credit where credit is due and thank him by giving him his props and trying my best to reflect his glory always.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
From Garden to City
Was reminded of something interesting yesterday. The the Bible is not garden to garden but garden to city.
God started out by putting man in the garden of Eden and at the end Heaven is described as a great city.
I find it interesting how society today is already mirroring that. By how many fewer people live in the country and how many have moved to the cities.
Man was designed to be in community and we are working towards that. Couple this with the things going on in the world. The disasters, the unrest in the Middle East, it all leads to one thing. The end of the world.
It is funny how many people prepare for a bad snow storm but how many are prepared for the end of the world?
God started out by putting man in the garden of Eden and at the end Heaven is described as a great city.
I find it interesting how society today is already mirroring that. By how many fewer people live in the country and how many have moved to the cities.
Man was designed to be in community and we are working towards that. Couple this with the things going on in the world. The disasters, the unrest in the Middle East, it all leads to one thing. The end of the world.
It is funny how many people prepare for a bad snow storm but how many are prepared for the end of the world?
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Did you miss this in the Great Ground Hog Day Blizzard of 2011?
In all of the anticipation, the worry, and the extra work associated with this week blizzard did you miss one very important thing? God's power, I was reminded of it in the book of Job chapter 37
5 God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.
6 “He directs the snow to fall on the earth
and tells the rain to pour down.
7 Then everyone stops working
so they can watch his power.
Boy did he ever direct it to fall.
Did you recognize God's power this week?
God himself has some very interesting things to say about snow as well in chapter 38.
22 “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of hail?
23 (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble,
for the day of battle and war.)
We got just a small preview of how effective His weapons could be if he so chooses to unleash them.
I would really recommend reading chapters 37 & 38 of Job today and be reminded of God's power.
5 God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.
6 “He directs the snow to fall on the earth
and tells the rain to pour down.
7 Then everyone stops working
so they can watch his power.
Boy did he ever direct it to fall.
Did you recognize God's power this week?
God himself has some very interesting things to say about snow as well in chapter 38.
22 “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of hail?
23 (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble,
for the day of battle and war.)
We got just a small preview of how effective His weapons could be if he so chooses to unleash them.
I would really recommend reading chapters 37 & 38 of Job today and be reminded of God's power.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
What's it worth to ya?
Yesterday Teresa was showing me a set of Princess House glasses. Yes they were nice but a set of 4 was over $40. Math was never my strength but that is over $10 a glass. In my book no glass is worth $10. Then I started thinking again about my word for the year "value." To someone that glass may be worth that kind of money but not to me. When I bought a 18 volt Dewalt cordless drill for $99 that was a good value to me. It is all about what we think things are worth.
What things in your life do you place the most value on? Your home, your car, your family, or some other prized possession? Guess what as important as those things are to all of us in the great scheme of things they are worthless garbage when you compare their value to knowing Christ.
The entire Bible points to it but Paul comes right out and says it in Philippians 3:8
Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ
Knowing what things are worth is what makes any businessman successful but knowing what things are really worth is what brings joy to this life and also brings eternal life in Heaven.
What things in your life do you place the most value on? Your home, your car, your family, or some other prized possession? Guess what as important as those things are to all of us in the great scheme of things they are worthless garbage when you compare their value to knowing Christ.
The entire Bible points to it but Paul comes right out and says it in Philippians 3:8
Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ
Knowing what things are worth is what makes any businessman successful but knowing what things are really worth is what brings joy to this life and also brings eternal life in Heaven.
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