God's Man

My bride and I were talking tonight about all the moving parts in our life right now and how we are really not fine.  We actually laughed at that realization.  As one thing piles onto the next it has actually become comical. One thing we do know is that it is ok not to be fine.  We resolved that issue together years ago because we know that ultimately it is not in our hands anyway.  God has been so very faithful to us that even in our pain we can laugh because our God is bigger than all of it.  We also recognized our own privilege and that our issues are not nearly as large as the loom. So I am praying for you dear reader.  That you would know the faithfulness of God even in your pain.  That you would seek Him first. Why are you cast down, O my soul,     and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,     my salvation and my God. - Psalm 42:11 God's Man

Photo Credit to New Old Stock Photos Here is another in my visual devotional series. How much do you want God? David says in Psalm 42 that his soul thirsts for God the same way a deer needs water. That is a serious longing. Seek after Him today and everyday. He can quench a thirst that nothing else can.

As you wind down on this Saturday remember that no matter what season you are in God has given you a focus, a hope, and a promise. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1:1-6 ESV) -God's Man

Tonight I will be praying for Unity in the body of Christ.  The insitution of marriage is something that touches all facets of society.  It reaches across political lines.  It crosses denominations.  It even bridges theologies.  It reminds us that we are meant to be united together as God's children for his Glory.  The scripture I will be praying referencing is Psalm 133.  This is a very short Psalm, only 3 verses.  It is a song of ascents.  The people are coming together and they are realizing how awesome it is to be one people united. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!  It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.  It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. (Psalm 133:1-3 NIV84) As we pray together I want to share what God is saying to us as stand united together. Father ...

Irene Butler Hebron January 5, 1927 - February 23, 2012 We discussed how not only is God everywhere but he is with us in the moment.  Now to look at how this works itself out in our life.  Let's take a look at this exchange between Jesus and his disciples. 1 John 13:31-38 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.  “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow l...

My Great Aunt Irene passed away on February 23, 2012 at the age of 85 years old. When I found out she had passed it was a surreal moment. I was attending an assembly for my oldest daughter after having spent the morning with my Parents, my Aunt and my Grandmother. Dad and I had said that we were going to go over and visit with Aunt Irene after the assembly. So there I was standing out in the hallway as my Dad gave me the news. Once my mother and I had gathered my daughter my Dad and I left to go to the house to be with the family that was quickly gathering there. As a family we prayed along with her Pastor. I was being stoic. Trying to be there for everyone. Be Strong. Then my cousin came to me and said that my Aunt wanted me to give the eulogy. After saying that I would I was caught in a wave of emotion and began to cry. As I sat outside of Aunt Irene's bedroom in the sitting room I cried because I couldn't believe that she was gone. As the night went on she asked me to pr...

There comes a moment in every child's life when they encounter it.  The dark.  The unknown.  FEAR.   Tonight Princess Mini came in saying that she was afraid of the dark.  She wanted to know if she could sleep with us. It is at these moments that we as parents shape them.  Being a parent is a awesome responsibility.  I don't mean that in Dude, that is AWESOME kind of way.  I mean it inspires awe.  It shakes you to your core.  It should...  I think that this is why so many run from it, but that is another topic. We don't do a lot of co-sleeping in our house.  That is not exactly true.  We don't let them sleep in our bed.  But we have spent many a night in their rooms.  When they are sick, or scared, or lonely we go to them. I think God works with us in much the same way.  When we are gripped by fear, concerned about the unknown, or just lonely, he comes in and sits next to our bed.  Maybe He puts His head on the pillow or drapes His arm over you but He makes his pr...

Welcome to Day 23 - God's Love Endures Forever Today at Living Hope Church we passed a significant milestone. Our UNITE campaign completed all of the tasks in the Red phase and now we are ready to move to our new location. My mini message today was taken from Psalm 136 which is a Psalm of Thanksgiving. It includes the familiar refrain of "His Love Endures Forever" 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. 4 to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. 5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. 6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. 7 who made the great lights— His love endures forever. 8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. 9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures fore...

Well my partner decided to get up with me tonight so here I am. The last few days I have been reading a book called, The Prayers of David: Becoming a Person after Gods Own Heart . It has been enlightening to look at David in a new way. To walk through the Psalms as a whole and see how they fit together with David's Life. As a story teller I enjoy the way the author highlights the events in David's life that possibly inspired him. He truly was a man after God's Own Heart. Even in times of struggle. That leads us to tonights lesson: Psalm 140: Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; protect me from men of violence who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's; the poison of vipers is on their lips. Selah Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet. Proud men have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set tr...