Matthew 4:1-11
The temptation of Jesus. You know as we go through life we are often tempted, I mean like every day. I don't think a day goes by that my thoughts stray to something tempting. Anything from woman to drinking. I mean with my past I am not suprised.
Jesus shows us the way to divert the temptations. jesus always points to what is written. You know your Bible can be a shield, it can deflect anything the devil can throw at you. Use your shield everyday. Believe me it helps.
Todays writings aren't all that long or profound but contimplate these verses and you may find your help for everyday life.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Prepare the way
Matthew 3
This chapter has much to do with our journey through life, well it speaks to me about my journey thus far. John says to prepare the way of the Lord and to make straight His paths.
It is only at this point in my life that I have been sorrily mistaken about what I have been doing with my faith. I mean God sent His only son to die for me so that He could keep me with him forever. He also sent John to teach us about baptism. You see it's only when we come clean that we can be with Him. We have to come clean about everything that we are and that we do. Even Jesus went to get clean, after that God points Him out to us saying "This my son the beloved, in whom I am well pleased."
I try to come clean all the time. I don't always feel clean, I mean the things from my past make me very ashamed. I try though.
Make straight His paths? What paths? This is not our path to God but His path to us. We make it so complicated for Him to find us. He searches and searches and we just keep hiding or misdirecting Him. He knows we are not perfect, but yet He seeks us out. People don't find God He finds them. Every time we sin we make His path a little more crooked. From today on I'm going to try to straighten that path for Him.
I believe that Christmas is our time for redemption. Our time to kneel at the manger and give the gift of our self to Jesus. We are why He came. He came to receive us, and when He died and rose from the dead He told us that we could return home to our Father. We are no longer separated from our home.
Let's try to clean up our acts and to straighten His path. The easier it is for Him to get to us the easier our life can be. He came to help and lighten our load. I don't know about you but I am all for a lighter load. I also will be trying to lighten the load of my fellow man, by showing Jesus to them. By what I do and say everyday.
This chapter has much to do with our journey through life, well it speaks to me about my journey thus far. John says to prepare the way of the Lord and to make straight His paths.
It is only at this point in my life that I have been sorrily mistaken about what I have been doing with my faith. I mean God sent His only son to die for me so that He could keep me with him forever. He also sent John to teach us about baptism. You see it's only when we come clean that we can be with Him. We have to come clean about everything that we are and that we do. Even Jesus went to get clean, after that God points Him out to us saying "This my son the beloved, in whom I am well pleased."
I try to come clean all the time. I don't always feel clean, I mean the things from my past make me very ashamed. I try though.
Make straight His paths? What paths? This is not our path to God but His path to us. We make it so complicated for Him to find us. He searches and searches and we just keep hiding or misdirecting Him. He knows we are not perfect, but yet He seeks us out. People don't find God He finds them. Every time we sin we make His path a little more crooked. From today on I'm going to try to straighten that path for Him.
I believe that Christmas is our time for redemption. Our time to kneel at the manger and give the gift of our self to Jesus. We are why He came. He came to receive us, and when He died and rose from the dead He told us that we could return home to our Father. We are no longer separated from our home.
Let's try to clean up our acts and to straighten His path. The easier it is for Him to get to us the easier our life can be. He came to help and lighten our load. I don't know about you but I am all for a lighter load. I also will be trying to lighten the load of my fellow man, by showing Jesus to them. By what I do and say everyday.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The Journey
Matthew 1-2
These two chapters tell of the birth of our Lord. Chapter one the lineage of Abraham to David, 14 generations. Chapter two tells of the journey of the holy family. Matthew doesn't tell the story the way Luke does. He has simplified it but does tell the way the prophets were fulfilled. Anyway these two chapters are an easy read.
I can relate to this journey. Not that anyone was trying to kill me, other than myself. See it all started way back when. I'm not sure myself. My addictions had lead me to this place. I was divorced in 2006. I moved into my own place and began the heaviest of my drinking. After losing my job I lost my apartment and moved to The Fort Wayne Rescue Mission. That is Indiana by the way. Didn't get into their program for drug abuse because of kidney stones. Moved to a motel room for a while. Tried to return to Fort Wayne, a pastor friend of mine helped me for a couple of days, then it was back to the motel room.
Then something told me to go to South Bend Indiana. I believe it was God. It was that still small voice, that I have learned to listen to.
Sidetrack with me for a moment. After graduating high school I joined the Navy. My third day, yes third day, at boot camp I passed out on the parade grounds. I was rushed to the hospital, where they found an ulcer. Long story short, after given the choice of staying in San Diego or going home, a voice told me to go home that my father needed me. One month after returning home my father died of a heart attack. True story.
Meanwhile back in Indiana. I went to South Bend, was hospitalised for nine days, than went to the South Bend Center for the Homeless. Where I received the help I needed. Yes I have relapsed a few times, but those stories are to come later.
My point is that I and all of us to go on journey to get to where we need to be. That is the way God's wisdom works. It is kind of a G.P.S. God's positioning system. We go places, see those places, learn from them (hopefully), then we can get back easier if need be. Yes I know we don't always do that. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus went around for a while, because they all needed to. I'll get into that later. My point is that we all need the journey to make us who we are.
Next time you are feeling lost and don't know which way to turn, pull out your G.P.S.(God's positioning system), your Bible. Then sit and listen for that still small voice. He will get you where you need to be, not always where you want to be.
These two chapters tell of the birth of our Lord. Chapter one the lineage of Abraham to David, 14 generations. Chapter two tells of the journey of the holy family. Matthew doesn't tell the story the way Luke does. He has simplified it but does tell the way the prophets were fulfilled. Anyway these two chapters are an easy read.
I can relate to this journey. Not that anyone was trying to kill me, other than myself. See it all started way back when. I'm not sure myself. My addictions had lead me to this place. I was divorced in 2006. I moved into my own place and began the heaviest of my drinking. After losing my job I lost my apartment and moved to The Fort Wayne Rescue Mission. That is Indiana by the way. Didn't get into their program for drug abuse because of kidney stones. Moved to a motel room for a while. Tried to return to Fort Wayne, a pastor friend of mine helped me for a couple of days, then it was back to the motel room.
Then something told me to go to South Bend Indiana. I believe it was God. It was that still small voice, that I have learned to listen to.
Sidetrack with me for a moment. After graduating high school I joined the Navy. My third day, yes third day, at boot camp I passed out on the parade grounds. I was rushed to the hospital, where they found an ulcer. Long story short, after given the choice of staying in San Diego or going home, a voice told me to go home that my father needed me. One month after returning home my father died of a heart attack. True story.
Meanwhile back in Indiana. I went to South Bend, was hospitalised for nine days, than went to the South Bend Center for the Homeless. Where I received the help I needed. Yes I have relapsed a few times, but those stories are to come later.
My point is that I and all of us to go on journey to get to where we need to be. That is the way God's wisdom works. It is kind of a G.P.S. God's positioning system. We go places, see those places, learn from them (hopefully), then we can get back easier if need be. Yes I know we don't always do that. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus went around for a while, because they all needed to. I'll get into that later. My point is that we all need the journey to make us who we are.
Next time you are feeling lost and don't know which way to turn, pull out your G.P.S.(God's positioning system), your Bible. Then sit and listen for that still small voice. He will get you where you need to be, not always where you want to be.
Friday, December 25, 2009
day one
Well...my first day with my first blog. Today I just thought I would introduce why i am doing this. After watching the movie "Julie and Julia" I decided that I would write about something that I am passionate about. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I also decided to start it on Christmas day, because what better day than to start on the day of His birth.
I am no writer by any stretch of the imagination. I do hope that you will get something out of this, and that would be a spark. Whatever that spark might be. Whether it is a stronger faith, a conversion, inspiration, a softening of your heart...whatever it might be. I am leaving that between you and the Almighty. Please do not misunderstand my intent either. I am not here to convert, just to tell of what God has done for me and where He is leading me now. Even if you don't believe in my God it doesn't mean that can be something from His Word for you.
I will be starting with the New Testament. Starting with Matthew. Then going in order from there. Some days may be long passages of reading than others short. Then I will share my thoughts on what I read. Remember I am not a scholar or a theologian, just a sinner in saints clothing.
Until tomorrow dear friends, may the peace that passes all understanding be yours today and always.
I am no writer by any stretch of the imagination. I do hope that you will get something out of this, and that would be a spark. Whatever that spark might be. Whether it is a stronger faith, a conversion, inspiration, a softening of your heart...whatever it might be. I am leaving that between you and the Almighty. Please do not misunderstand my intent either. I am not here to convert, just to tell of what God has done for me and where He is leading me now. Even if you don't believe in my God it doesn't mean that can be something from His Word for you.
I will be starting with the New Testament. Starting with Matthew. Then going in order from there. Some days may be long passages of reading than others short. Then I will share my thoughts on what I read. Remember I am not a scholar or a theologian, just a sinner in saints clothing.
Until tomorrow dear friends, may the peace that passes all understanding be yours today and always.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)