Luke 9:61-62
Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
Back in college, to support my tuition, I had a summer job working for Alberta Agriculture. It was a fun job planting test crops all over Alberta. I would drive a tractor to seed all of the crops. The key thing about that is trying to seed straight rows. If you didn't, the crops won't get irrigated properly when it rains and then your crop doesn't produce as much as it could. The trick is to always be looking ahead at a single point. If you get distracted and look away, you will go off of your crop line. In the same way, as followers of Christ, we must always be focused and always looking ahead. Never back to our old selves and our old sinful nature. True discipleship is about transformation and if we let any thing distract us it makes it all the more harder and hinders our growth.
-Albert
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Word for Today
Philippians 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
A problem that I've always struggled with is wanting to know things. Why was I going through a particular trial, why was it taking so long for a prayer to be answered or why did this or that happen? I could accept the "yes" or "no" answers from the Lord, even if it wasn't the answers I wanted - as long as I knew! But the hardest things for me were the unanswered questions or the long waiting period that God would take me through. But it was those very times that were the most refining moments of my life. I had to learn to be more patient, I had to learn to have more faith and I had to learn to rejoice in hardships and trust Him. And most of all, I had to be okay with perhaps never knowing the answer to the "why's." It literally took years for me to come to that point and at times, I still fall and have to learn all over again. But God has been gracious with my many shortcomings and thankfully He does not condemn for my failures and weaknesses. He takes His time to work in us, and time is something we must learn to abide by. So we wait and patiently allow God to do His perfect work, always believing that His will and desire will prevail and bring Him glory.
Tina
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
A problem that I've always struggled with is wanting to know things. Why was I going through a particular trial, why was it taking so long for a prayer to be answered or why did this or that happen? I could accept the "yes" or "no" answers from the Lord, even if it wasn't the answers I wanted - as long as I knew! But the hardest things for me were the unanswered questions or the long waiting period that God would take me through. But it was those very times that were the most refining moments of my life. I had to learn to be more patient, I had to learn to have more faith and I had to learn to rejoice in hardships and trust Him. And most of all, I had to be okay with perhaps never knowing the answer to the "why's." It literally took years for me to come to that point and at times, I still fall and have to learn all over again. But God has been gracious with my many shortcomings and thankfully He does not condemn for my failures and weaknesses. He takes His time to work in us, and time is something we must learn to abide by. So we wait and patiently allow God to do His perfect work, always believing that His will and desire will prevail and bring Him glory.
Tina
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Word for Today
Psalm 51:11
Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Whenever my husband Thomas leaves on business trips for extended periods of time, I always experience a painful void that aches and longs for his fellowship while he's gone. But at least there are friends and family to gather around you so it really isn't too bad. But no pain is greater than if you are without fellowship with the Lord. When that happens, your entire life is thrown upside down and life becomes even bleaker and more difficult. Even when things go well, there is a sadness there if God is not present. And whenever I get a glimpse into that kind of life it sends me running right back into His place of refuge. Its a lesson I seem to have to learn again and again that if I don't have the Lord in my life on a daily, consistent basis, I cannot survive. David knew this more than anyone when he penned this Psalm. He cared not what others thought of him or what he himself would lose due to his sin. What he grieved the most was that his fellowship with God had been broken. May we all love God so much that it hurts and pains us when we are apart from Him.
Tina
Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Whenever my husband Thomas leaves on business trips for extended periods of time, I always experience a painful void that aches and longs for his fellowship while he's gone. But at least there are friends and family to gather around you so it really isn't too bad. But no pain is greater than if you are without fellowship with the Lord. When that happens, your entire life is thrown upside down and life becomes even bleaker and more difficult. Even when things go well, there is a sadness there if God is not present. And whenever I get a glimpse into that kind of life it sends me running right back into His place of refuge. Its a lesson I seem to have to learn again and again that if I don't have the Lord in my life on a daily, consistent basis, I cannot survive. David knew this more than anyone when he penned this Psalm. He cared not what others thought of him or what he himself would lose due to his sin. What he grieved the most was that his fellowship with God had been broken. May we all love God so much that it hurts and pains us when we are apart from Him.
Tina
Monday, November 2, 2009
Hebrews 13:16
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Luke was at a birthday party yesterday. All morning and all the way to the party, he kept saying, "Yep. They're going to make me gluten-free cake." Where he got that idea from, I don't know. But he got it. When he got there, the hostess asked, "Who would like some pizza?" Luke raised his hand. But he can't eat pizza because the dough has gluten. Then he asked for his gluten-free cake (inappropriately, much like his dad) and was told there was no gluten-free cake. He is so good about not having what others have and about not getting what he wants. That reminded me of a couple of weeks ago when he had his first donut. I was shopping and came across some gluten-free donuts. A lot of gluten-free stuff tastes like it could use some gluten. But not these donuts. They were good. When it came time for Luke to have one, he got pretty excited about his own donut. After his first two bites, he was grinning from ear to ear. He floored me when he said, "My friend's name is Carter. And I would like to share this with him." It blessed me to see that he wanted to share something so good and, for him, so rare. It would be great if each of us could share our good things with others. One such thing is the Good News, the great gift that we've been given by our Lord Jesus.
John
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Word for Today
Mark 10:24
"The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!"
Everywhere you look these days there are quick fixes to life. How to look younger, how to lose weight without dieting, take this program and earn hundreds of dollars. Even churches have fallen with evangelists promising loads of blessing and money if you follow a certain gospel. No wonder the message of Jesus seems to be fading faster and becoming more and more hated because He goes against this very thing the world preaches. He never promised people a rose garden free of troubles. The prophet Daniel was devoted in prayer to the Lord, and he was thrown to the lions. Jeremiah prophesied on behalf of God and he was mocked, ridiculed and thrown into a pit. The apostle Paul endured imprisonment, beatings and other hardships that we cannot imagine. And there were others who died in faith, never receiving the promises spoken (Hebrews 11:13). There is no greater joy than walking closely with Jesus, but at times it will be costly. There will be times we will be faithful and yet we'll be thrown to the lions. We can share the gospel with others and receive nothing but persecution in return. Loved ones may turn away from us and sometimes our troubles seem to increase all the more because of our faith. But what keeps us going and what kept the saints pressing onward? Despite the hardships, they believed in God's promises of greater eternal hope. Because one day, all the things of this earth will pass and He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. We will rejoice forever in His presence and this future glory is worth whatever we endure on this earth. So continue to be faithful because He who never fails us is always with us.
Tina
"The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!"
Everywhere you look these days there are quick fixes to life. How to look younger, how to lose weight without dieting, take this program and earn hundreds of dollars. Even churches have fallen with evangelists promising loads of blessing and money if you follow a certain gospel. No wonder the message of Jesus seems to be fading faster and becoming more and more hated because He goes against this very thing the world preaches. He never promised people a rose garden free of troubles. The prophet Daniel was devoted in prayer to the Lord, and he was thrown to the lions. Jeremiah prophesied on behalf of God and he was mocked, ridiculed and thrown into a pit. The apostle Paul endured imprisonment, beatings and other hardships that we cannot imagine. And there were others who died in faith, never receiving the promises spoken (Hebrews 11:13). There is no greater joy than walking closely with Jesus, but at times it will be costly. There will be times we will be faithful and yet we'll be thrown to the lions. We can share the gospel with others and receive nothing but persecution in return. Loved ones may turn away from us and sometimes our troubles seem to increase all the more because of our faith. But what keeps us going and what kept the saints pressing onward? Despite the hardships, they believed in God's promises of greater eternal hope. Because one day, all the things of this earth will pass and He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. We will rejoice forever in His presence and this future glory is worth whatever we endure on this earth. So continue to be faithful because He who never fails us is always with us.
Tina
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
One Way Fear
and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.
These days you don't have to be a mom or have a condition like OCD to have germs on your top ten list of fears. Germs, bacteria, and viruses are everywhere. Especially during the Fall - better known as the "flu season". The hard part is, you can't see germs. And for those of us who have watched too many shows like 20/20 or CSI, we know that germs are everywhere.
Nonetheless, as much as the fear of viruses and the unknown potential hosts they may occupy can cause fear and anxiety in our hearts, the Lord was showing me this week that thankfully, He is everywhere too. The greatest thing we should fear is not ...those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. Luke 12 verse five goes on to say "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who... has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! (Luke 12:4-5)
Out of all the things to fear in this world, an eternity apart from our loving Heavenly Father should be at the top of everyone's list. God desires for us to have an undivided heart, and choose one way, which is Jesus Christ. (John 14:6; Rev 1:17-18). Satan can bring on the scare tactics for his own good, but according to this verse in Jeremiah, God desires us to fear Him not for His good, but for our own. Both now and for the future.
Hallelujah!
tam : )
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Word for Today
Matthew 12:13
Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand!" He stretched it out and it was restored to normal, like the other.
All it took for the man was to simply stretch out his hand - by faith. There are things that appear so insurmountable to us that we can be trapped by either fear or doubt. But we often forget that it doesn't always take a huge amount of faith for the Lord to work wonders. God is so eager to show us all He can do in our lives that He's even willing to take faith the size of a mustard seed. And we may take that step forward with fear, wondering what we are getting ourselves into, but that tiny seed of faith is what keeps us going. And what we will find is that the Lord takes what is so small and mediocre and turns it into something extraordinary. The power of God is so enticing that we find we actually want to go even further - to tread on places we never thought we'd be and open to more things He puts in our path. Only the Lord can accomplish what seems impossible to us - and it begins with faith. Trust in Him and stretch out your hand towards all that He desires to give to you. Truly it is awesome to witness the hand of God in our lives!
Tina
Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand!" He stretched it out and it was restored to normal, like the other.
All it took for the man was to simply stretch out his hand - by faith. There are things that appear so insurmountable to us that we can be trapped by either fear or doubt. But we often forget that it doesn't always take a huge amount of faith for the Lord to work wonders. God is so eager to show us all He can do in our lives that He's even willing to take faith the size of a mustard seed. And we may take that step forward with fear, wondering what we are getting ourselves into, but that tiny seed of faith is what keeps us going. And what we will find is that the Lord takes what is so small and mediocre and turns it into something extraordinary. The power of God is so enticing that we find we actually want to go even further - to tread on places we never thought we'd be and open to more things He puts in our path. Only the Lord can accomplish what seems impossible to us - and it begins with faith. Trust in Him and stretch out your hand towards all that He desires to give to you. Truly it is awesome to witness the hand of God in our lives!
Tina
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