Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Praise You in this Storm
I love this song and have been planning on working on it for a while. Here is, I hope a video that gives hope in times of trouble. He loves us so much and wants us to know Him and understand Him, even when it hurts. Our suffering is opportunity for growth and experience to help and encourage others. Thank You Lord...I praise You in my storms!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
In the Waiting
This is for anyone dealing with emotional or physical pain and uncertainty. I love the hope this song gives and that you can find the peace you need in the times of waiting for answers.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Reading My Brother's Blog
Well, here I am again, responding to my brother's blog post and writing thoughts and (hopefully) insights to his post. This time he was somewhat, questioning his "call" to ministry and this was my response...
I don't want you to think that you are not unique, because we all know you are, but you are not alone in your question of "call" and what that means. Does it morph, of course it does, because, like Erin mentioned, we are not fully developed and mature at the moment we first hear "the call."
I know that more than anything for me, it was a moment of complete surrender, to go and follow Him where ever that might be. I said full-time Christian service...but for a woman that isn't pastoring, and I wasn't wishing to run off to Africa and become a missionary. Jim is the same, he knows God "called" him but his only reference was pastoring.
I love him and he has many gifts, but pastoring in a church full time is not really where he's gifted. He's a trouble shooter, he's an idealist, he's a new testament believer, a Kingdom thinker and at times, constraining him to the day in and outs of the "local church pastor" are limiting and frustrating for him.
He is a teacher, not that he can't preach, he can, but explaining and conveying ideas and illustrations for communicating God's word is what, I think, he does best. I also know, that didn't come naturally, speaking was a struggle at first. Experiences aren't wasted, God uses the good and bad to build you into the person He wants to use. Jim has become an amazingly insightful and discerning man full of wisdom when it comes to church health and ministry.
It really is our devotion to God that makes the "call" clear. God uses us differently throughout our journey, we fill in gaps and pick up the slack. We open up to different ways of ministering to different kinds of people, old, young, piers, and sometimes to "church" and sometime to the world. He just wants us to take "one day at a time" devote it totally to Him, looking for opportunities to serve and glorify Him. If it leads to a position in a church, great follow Him there. If it's living and working in a secular job, great, follow Him there. But if your "call" is to full-time Christian service...that's you, where you are, devoting yourself daily to see, do and reach out to share His love and hope with a dieing world.
Remember, even missionaries aren't just missionaries anymore, they have to have other jobs too. Many times it's being an undercover agent for Jesus. It's living and working with the people, building relationships and showing their concern, before even mentioning the "hope and peace" they have in the Creator of the Universe.
Just do today what He wants you to do...look for where He is at work and join Him...(Blackaby)
Having a "call" on your life isn't always a clear and unchanging ministry. And just because we aren't a "pastor" doesn't make the "call" any less real or serious. Follow your passion, use your gifts and be open to the Holy Spirit in the small acts of kindness and love.
I don't want you to think that you are not unique, because we all know you are, but you are not alone in your question of "call" and what that means. Does it morph, of course it does, because, like Erin mentioned, we are not fully developed and mature at the moment we first hear "the call."
I know that more than anything for me, it was a moment of complete surrender, to go and follow Him where ever that might be. I said full-time Christian service...but for a woman that isn't pastoring, and I wasn't wishing to run off to Africa and become a missionary. Jim is the same, he knows God "called" him but his only reference was pastoring.
I love him and he has many gifts, but pastoring in a church full time is not really where he's gifted. He's a trouble shooter, he's an idealist, he's a new testament believer, a Kingdom thinker and at times, constraining him to the day in and outs of the "local church pastor" are limiting and frustrating for him.
He is a teacher, not that he can't preach, he can, but explaining and conveying ideas and illustrations for communicating God's word is what, I think, he does best. I also know, that didn't come naturally, speaking was a struggle at first. Experiences aren't wasted, God uses the good and bad to build you into the person He wants to use. Jim has become an amazingly insightful and discerning man full of wisdom when it comes to church health and ministry.
It really is our devotion to God that makes the "call" clear. God uses us differently throughout our journey, we fill in gaps and pick up the slack. We open up to different ways of ministering to different kinds of people, old, young, piers, and sometimes to "church" and sometime to the world. He just wants us to take "one day at a time" devote it totally to Him, looking for opportunities to serve and glorify Him. If it leads to a position in a church, great follow Him there. If it's living and working in a secular job, great, follow Him there. But if your "call" is to full-time Christian service...that's you, where you are, devoting yourself daily to see, do and reach out to share His love and hope with a dieing world.
Remember, even missionaries aren't just missionaries anymore, they have to have other jobs too. Many times it's being an undercover agent for Jesus. It's living and working with the people, building relationships and showing their concern, before even mentioning the "hope and peace" they have in the Creator of the Universe.
Just do today what He wants you to do...look for where He is at work and join Him...(Blackaby)
Having a "call" on your life isn't always a clear and unchanging ministry. And just because we aren't a "pastor" doesn't make the "call" any less real or serious. Follow your passion, use your gifts and be open to the Holy Spirit in the small acts of kindness and love.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
OK do you have 10 Minutes?
OK I mentioned how Francis Chan's book, "Crazy Love" inspired me to produce a new video on Genesis 1 Creation....so here it is. It's about 10 minutes...great pictures of some of the amazing creatures and Hubble shots of our universe....enjoy and let me know what you think!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
How Great Is Our God
Hey, everyone! If you feel a little small in your world, watch the following video and see how small we really are. I've been on a journey that has lead me to a refreshening of my faith and relationship with my Lord. It started with realizing just how little joy I felt in my spiritual walk. I asked the Lord to renew my joy, and as always, He answered my prayer.
First my friend, Jennifer, said she was reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Well, I had heard of it and thought Jim may already have it, yes he did! So she was explaining just how much she was enjoying it, so I asked Jim for it and he said he should read it too. Now both of my older daughters had read it last year and encouraged us to read it, but I'm not much of a reader and I kind of forgot about it.
Then with Jennifer I thought I better start reading.
Well, I have to say it got me so excited...I was so in agreement about what Francis was saying...loosing the "Awe factor" of God... I had just mentioned to the ladies in our Bible study that week that we don't have the reverence for God, the King of Kings. We don't know here in America what it is to have a King to be a loyal subject and show our honor, loyalty, and devotion. We are independent and bow to no one.
So I read the Fear chapter, I watch the websites, videos for chapter 1 and the "Awe Factor" and get inspired to produce a new video of Genesis 1-Creation. I watch many Francis Chan messages on the internet early on Sunday morning before church...I can't wait to get to church. Then pastor speaks on this very subject and uses Francis Chan as a reference because, he too is reading Crazy Love. WOW! Jennifer's enthusiasm has spread and it became the spring board into a joyful new walk with Jesus.
One thing was mentioned and I find true, that there is a great lacking in the way we do "church" in US. Not just "traditional" churches, but in "contemporary" ones as well. We go on Sunday mornings, sing, pray, listen to a message and go out to lunch, or whatever the usual routine might be. We think church is for Sunday, maybe Wednesday night and a Bible study somewhere in there as well. We are the church and if we are not out in our world sharing Jesus's hope and love and peace with friends, neighbors and strangers in the community, we are not doing church. "Come to church" to hear the message is not enough, is not Biblical. READ ACTS AGAIN!
Well, in the midst of this many others are seeing, reading, questioning, the same things, How can I make sure I'm serving, sharing and making a difference in my world. There is a movement...I want to be ready for what God is doing...I want to think Biblically, I want to be missional. New terms and yet old ideas...2000 year old ideas...GO YE THEREFORE....remember...go isn't across the world, although that's a great way to serve, but go is right here, right now, across the street, in the store, at school....where ever you are, you are the "church" the temple of the Holy Spirit!
Be amazed by your Creator...be humbled that He loves you, you speck, you vapor! I have been so full and so humbled these last few weeks...I love my God, my Jesus, and I want to make a difference. " How can I keep from singing Your Praise!"
Watch this video, it's one in a five part series, shared at a Chris Tomlin concert. If you have the time watch them all, I couldn't stop. When you get to part four...all about our human bodies that HE created....it absolutely blew me away! Tears streaming down my face...I'm just a speck...I'm just a vapor, yet three times He said to me "I love you, I'm listening" Banana pudding, champagne grapes, a week away....He reassured me, He brought me delight and warmth and He is my Abba Father. The Creator of the universe...Loves me!!!!
First my friend, Jennifer, said she was reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Well, I had heard of it and thought Jim may already have it, yes he did! So she was explaining just how much she was enjoying it, so I asked Jim for it and he said he should read it too. Now both of my older daughters had read it last year and encouraged us to read it, but I'm not much of a reader and I kind of forgot about it.
Then with Jennifer I thought I better start reading.
Well, I have to say it got me so excited...I was so in agreement about what Francis was saying...loosing the "Awe factor" of God... I had just mentioned to the ladies in our Bible study that week that we don't have the reverence for God, the King of Kings. We don't know here in America what it is to have a King to be a loyal subject and show our honor, loyalty, and devotion. We are independent and bow to no one.
So I read the Fear chapter, I watch the websites, videos for chapter 1 and the "Awe Factor" and get inspired to produce a new video of Genesis 1-Creation. I watch many Francis Chan messages on the internet early on Sunday morning before church...I can't wait to get to church. Then pastor speaks on this very subject and uses Francis Chan as a reference because, he too is reading Crazy Love. WOW! Jennifer's enthusiasm has spread and it became the spring board into a joyful new walk with Jesus.
One thing was mentioned and I find true, that there is a great lacking in the way we do "church" in US. Not just "traditional" churches, but in "contemporary" ones as well. We go on Sunday mornings, sing, pray, listen to a message and go out to lunch, or whatever the usual routine might be. We think church is for Sunday, maybe Wednesday night and a Bible study somewhere in there as well. We are the church and if we are not out in our world sharing Jesus's hope and love and peace with friends, neighbors and strangers in the community, we are not doing church. "Come to church" to hear the message is not enough, is not Biblical. READ ACTS AGAIN!
Well, in the midst of this many others are seeing, reading, questioning, the same things, How can I make sure I'm serving, sharing and making a difference in my world. There is a movement...I want to be ready for what God is doing...I want to think Biblically, I want to be missional. New terms and yet old ideas...2000 year old ideas...GO YE THEREFORE....remember...go isn't across the world, although that's a great way to serve, but go is right here, right now, across the street, in the store, at school....where ever you are, you are the "church" the temple of the Holy Spirit!
Be amazed by your Creator...be humbled that He loves you, you speck, you vapor! I have been so full and so humbled these last few weeks...I love my God, my Jesus, and I want to make a difference. " How can I keep from singing Your Praise!"
Watch this video, it's one in a five part series, shared at a Chris Tomlin concert. If you have the time watch them all, I couldn't stop. When you get to part four...all about our human bodies that HE created....it absolutely blew me away! Tears streaming down my face...I'm just a speck...I'm just a vapor, yet three times He said to me "I love you, I'm listening" Banana pudding, champagne grapes, a week away....He reassured me, He brought me delight and warmth and He is my Abba Father. The Creator of the universe...Loves me!!!!
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