What is your Story?
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
How should Iron Sharpen Iron> How should a man sharpen the countenance of his friend?
Jonathan saw something in David that caused him to Love him as he loved himself. Making a covenant with David. Striking a mutual loyalty between the two. Jonathan initiated the covenant. Making David his equal when he gave David his robe. Jonathan saw something in David that David didn’t see. He saw leadership. He saw love, strength. He saw God’s likeness in a man who would lead Israel to greatness.
Jonathan gave David his sword; his bow and his belt. Jonathan was drawing out David’s potential. That God had already put into David. Jonathan was being used to developing what David would become. He believed in David, he hoped for David. The greatness was designed by God, but God used “one closer than a brother to develop the leadership traits in David. As iron sharpens iron we should sharpen those God has put into our lives. It is never to destroy. It is to hone. To make each other the best in each other. To help each other develop the God given gifts we all have but may not recognize. The edge is already existing the sharpening is not negative. It is the harder steel that will sharpen the weaker or undeveloped. We are all one body but many members. If one is weak or under developed than we are all weak and under developed.
Proverbs 27:17 Creed
• I believe it is a worthy task to love my brothers as I love myself.
• To consider him as more important to me than I am.
• I believe that it is my responsibility to help my brother when he falls.
• To restore him in love to his greatest potential in his living relationship with Jesus Christ.
• It is my responsibility to build him up.
• I am to encourage him.
• I am to pray for him.
• I am to hold him accountable and be held accountable by him.
• It is my responsibility to sing his praises.
• I am to believe in him.
• I am to draw out the gifts God has place in him.
• I am to help him develop into the full potential that God sees in him.
Jonathan gave David his sword; his bow and his belt. Jonathan was drawing out David’s potential. That God had already put into David. Jonathan was being used to developing what David would become. He believed in David, he hoped for David. The greatness was designed by God, but God used “one closer than a brother to develop the leadership traits in David. As iron sharpens iron we should sharpen those God has put into our lives. It is never to destroy. It is to hone. To make each other the best in each other. To help each other develop the God given gifts we all have but may not recognize. The edge is already existing the sharpening is not negative. It is the harder steel that will sharpen the weaker or undeveloped. We are all one body but many members. If one is weak or under developed than we are all weak and under developed.
Proverbs 27:17 Creed
• I believe it is a worthy task to love my brothers as I love myself.
• To consider him as more important to me than I am.
• I believe that it is my responsibility to help my brother when he falls.
• To restore him in love to his greatest potential in his living relationship with Jesus Christ.
• It is my responsibility to build him up.
• I am to encourage him.
• I am to pray for him.
• I am to hold him accountable and be held accountable by him.
• It is my responsibility to sing his praises.
• I am to believe in him.
• I am to draw out the gifts God has place in him.
• I am to help him develop into the full potential that God sees in him.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Go
November 7, 2009 –
rc2dayand2morrow
Mark 16:15Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.We live in a world where there is pain; suffering and sickness all around us. There is pain in the hearts of many around us every day. The sinful environment and life style of the human race has caused normal life to be self seeking and avoidance to hear and accept the only true healing touch for our ongoing repetition of the same type of actions that our parents taught us and we are teaching our children. Pain from thinking testing out relationships before getting married should be normal. The affair is ok if no one discovers what is going on (after all what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas right?) Adultery not only those affected directly by the feelings of betrayal to each other but when their children are involved, the effects can be many and are life lasting effects. Pain and suffering from drug addiction and alcoholism reach deep into many lives, not only for those who are using but also for those who live with and know them. The effects of child abuse are an ongoing cycle that destroys countless lives with terrible suffering and addictive and abusive lifestyles that continue for generations. The list goes on and we all are at least familiar with them if not connected to them. These problems and many more are around us and touch our lives daily. The commission of love sent from God through his son has never changed. He wants us to take the hope of the good news that changed our lives and hand it out as freely as we received it. The same good news that changed and freed us. The good news that is freeing us daily needs to be handed out at every opportunity. We have a great gift handed to us. Not because we earned it nor deserved it. But because God loves us, where we were. Where we are, in the middle of our hurting lives, in the middle of our destroyed and for many of us our helpless lives. He gave us hope. He gave us love and acceptance and offered us a better way to live. So in the middle of a State and Federal government that continue to appear to be more and more anti-Christ, in schools that preaching what they think is protection from fanaticism, not the true freedoms offered by a relationship with Christ. This same good news is the love and freedom he painfully wants us to know and hand out to all. Let’s freely give away what we have been freely. Ephesians 2:10 tells us we are his workmanship. The New Testament Greek word “poema.” God’s poem or his art work, precious to his heart. Made with his own hands, with his own imagination. The verse goes on to tell us that we have been created for good works before the creation of the world in him. The works are ready and waiting for us to go and do.Ask him to lead you.When we are doing what we are designed to do it is like fitting a round peg into a round hole… it is a perfect fit.Ask and you will find, seek and it will be given, knock and it will be opened to you.We will find everything we need at the feet of our savior, in the quiet place of our prayer closet. Visit daily, visit often.If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we will fellowship with one another.
rc2dayand2morrow
Mark 16:15Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.We live in a world where there is pain; suffering and sickness all around us. There is pain in the hearts of many around us every day. The sinful environment and life style of the human race has caused normal life to be self seeking and avoidance to hear and accept the only true healing touch for our ongoing repetition of the same type of actions that our parents taught us and we are teaching our children. Pain from thinking testing out relationships before getting married should be normal. The affair is ok if no one discovers what is going on (after all what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas right?) Adultery not only those affected directly by the feelings of betrayal to each other but when their children are involved, the effects can be many and are life lasting effects. Pain and suffering from drug addiction and alcoholism reach deep into many lives, not only for those who are using but also for those who live with and know them. The effects of child abuse are an ongoing cycle that destroys countless lives with terrible suffering and addictive and abusive lifestyles that continue for generations. The list goes on and we all are at least familiar with them if not connected to them. These problems and many more are around us and touch our lives daily. The commission of love sent from God through his son has never changed. He wants us to take the hope of the good news that changed our lives and hand it out as freely as we received it. The same good news that changed and freed us. The good news that is freeing us daily needs to be handed out at every opportunity. We have a great gift handed to us. Not because we earned it nor deserved it. But because God loves us, where we were. Where we are, in the middle of our hurting lives, in the middle of our destroyed and for many of us our helpless lives. He gave us hope. He gave us love and acceptance and offered us a better way to live. So in the middle of a State and Federal government that continue to appear to be more and more anti-Christ, in schools that preaching what they think is protection from fanaticism, not the true freedoms offered by a relationship with Christ. This same good news is the love and freedom he painfully wants us to know and hand out to all. Let’s freely give away what we have been freely. Ephesians 2:10 tells us we are his workmanship. The New Testament Greek word “poema.” God’s poem or his art work, precious to his heart. Made with his own hands, with his own imagination. The verse goes on to tell us that we have been created for good works before the creation of the world in him. The works are ready and waiting for us to go and do.Ask him to lead you.When we are doing what we are designed to do it is like fitting a round peg into a round hole… it is a perfect fit.Ask and you will find, seek and it will be given, knock and it will be opened to you.We will find everything we need at the feet of our savior, in the quiet place of our prayer closet. Visit daily, visit often.If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we will fellowship with one another.
Making the most of every Opportunity
October 17, 2009 –
A homeless man I know died last week. Willy was one of the men who accepted Christ as his savior at a Bible study named “The Fringe”. This study was directed by God in at a Starbucks in an area where gang members walk by, homeless walk by and people from all walks of life have stopped, asked questions; listened; asked for prayer and have had their lives changed by the Spirit of God. Willy was one of those people God sent by to spend time with us. I didn’t know much about Willy. He would show up one week and then not for a while. Willy always felt and made himself welcome. He would sit and talk about his experience with church as a boy. He liked to talk about fishing on the Sacramento River. Willy is my brother in Christ and now is at home with Dad. I am thankful Willy was in my life, even for a short time. Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore don’t be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17 Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 the days are short let’s be ready in season and out of season.Now you are in your Fathers mansion Willy. I can’t wait to see you there my friend.
A homeless man I know died last week. Willy was one of the men who accepted Christ as his savior at a Bible study named “The Fringe”. This study was directed by God in at a Starbucks in an area where gang members walk by, homeless walk by and people from all walks of life have stopped, asked questions; listened; asked for prayer and have had their lives changed by the Spirit of God. Willy was one of those people God sent by to spend time with us. I didn’t know much about Willy. He would show up one week and then not for a while. Willy always felt and made himself welcome. He would sit and talk about his experience with church as a boy. He liked to talk about fishing on the Sacramento River. Willy is my brother in Christ and now is at home with Dad. I am thankful Willy was in my life, even for a short time. Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore don’t be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17 Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 the days are short let’s be ready in season and out of season.Now you are in your Fathers mansion Willy. I can’t wait to see you there my friend.
My Hope is sure
October 9, 2009 –
Like the sun that shines through a hole in the storm covered sky, or the breaking of dawn after the long night that held fear or uncertainty. Our anchor our hope is not in anything this world offers. Where moths destroy and the thief steals away what is precious. Our hope is steadfast. Held for us securely behind the veil waiting for us. Our very treasure is Jesus, our hope and our glory. We are honored to have been drawn by his Holy Spirit, convicted of sin and by the bloodshed for us, honored to be given the right to be called the children of God. Our hope is our anchor that keeps us from being destroyed even by the hart ships in this lifetime. The uncertainty of what is offered by this world we live in. Our hope is held in him, behind the veil, in Heaven. The hope of our destination pulls us through trials and tribulations of the daily life we live as strangers in a strange land. Because he is unchanging, our hope increases the more intimately we connect with him. I am unspeakably grateful for a hope that is larger than I am, building a faith that honors him and touches his heart. I had nothing to do with gaining this faith or hope. I am overwhelmed by this gift given to me.Thank You Father. Hebrews 6:19
Like the sun that shines through a hole in the storm covered sky, or the breaking of dawn after the long night that held fear or uncertainty. Our anchor our hope is not in anything this world offers. Where moths destroy and the thief steals away what is precious. Our hope is steadfast. Held for us securely behind the veil waiting for us. Our very treasure is Jesus, our hope and our glory. We are honored to have been drawn by his Holy Spirit, convicted of sin and by the bloodshed for us, honored to be given the right to be called the children of God. Our hope is our anchor that keeps us from being destroyed even by the hart ships in this lifetime. The uncertainty of what is offered by this world we live in. Our hope is held in him, behind the veil, in Heaven. The hope of our destination pulls us through trials and tribulations of the daily life we live as strangers in a strange land. Because he is unchanging, our hope increases the more intimately we connect with him. I am unspeakably grateful for a hope that is larger than I am, building a faith that honors him and touches his heart. I had nothing to do with gaining this faith or hope. I am overwhelmed by this gift given to me.Thank You Father. Hebrews 6:19
A Hope that never fails
October 6, 2009 –
Today a couple of things happened that were two of those moments took place that were HMMM moments. I work for the state of California. Good bad or indifferent. The organization l work for has need of several people like myself to perform a service. The problem is that now there isn’t enough money for all of us to continue. So layoffs have taken place. One of the men I work with has been laid off. My friend has become my new brother in Christ. Heavy in heart since the news of his layoff. Prayer has been a daily routine on behalf of my new brother for a new job. I believing that my Father hears prayers and will always carry out his purposes. He will use adverse situations to carry out those purposes in our lives. My brother has been standing in his newly found faith for God’s provision, he is just getting to know his how to get involved with his new relationship with His Heavenly Father. Two ideas have come across his way. Things never thought of by him or anyone else. The first: a contractor that works in our area has told him if he can he will put him to work, and he has been talking to all of his friends asking for help putting my brother to work. The second: someone in the office area where we work, gave him an opportunity via a friend she has for an apartment complex maintenance position. Both are now considering my brother for employment. My brother and friend has a new hope and stronger belief that anything is possible with his God. Neither of these positions has been solidified but my friend has seen how his new family has come together to pray for him and offer ideas and help where possible. The best thing is that everyone who has offered prayer and ideas for him, do not attend church together. But share the same relationship with Jesus. One of these in the same Christ Family, gave an astounding reference, is a new Christian himself. God is on the throne and is always at work in every situation of life on our behalf to carry out his purposes. Call to him in everything, realize he is a creative God and can bring things to pass from things never expected or seen before. Look for him; and expect great things from him. Give your hearts to him. He wants a close tender relationship with us. Romans 8:32 tells us “if he gave up his son will he not along with him give us all things?” The next thing of the day is this: I have a friend who has some physical challenges. He has more than one disability he is dealing with, more than one issue; he is dealing with the struggle of losing of a portion of his fixed income as well. He has a lot things staked against him. A couple of other brothers and sisters in Christ have been working on a solution for him over the past few days. When I got home from work I made a few calls regarding his current status. This is when I found out he left his apartment before eviction took place. So now he is homeless, to add to his strenuous way of life. I am in the process of learning how my friend can get help with his many issues he deals with daily. Heavy in heart, I called another friend who has been struggling with a different set of issues, who is being pressed due to choices he is making. A Christian man, but never the less full of struggles. I asked him about organizations that would be likely to help out some one in the situation my first friend is facing. He began to sound off different organizations that have been willing to help out some of his friends as well as himself in times past. All of the sudden new hope was stirred up in me. New energy ignited about my homeless friend’s situation with new possibilities. New life had spawned because The Father of lights peered down into life and touched hearts and grace hope to a hopeless feeling situation. The thought came to me in mid conversation – hey I have found someone who knows how to deal with my homeless friend’s situation and has a passion for doing so. I asked this friend if he would be willing to help out. Full of excitement, a resounding yes came through the receiver of the phone! I think we are on our way to help out this homeless brother and friend and only the lord knows who else. Now that is what I am talking about! A creative God doing creative things to touch earth with his heart. On behalf of those who call on his name when in great distress. He hears us call to him. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 Stay tuned for updates.The family of God working together solutions to difficult situations.
Today a couple of things happened that were two of those moments took place that were HMMM moments. I work for the state of California. Good bad or indifferent. The organization l work for has need of several people like myself to perform a service. The problem is that now there isn’t enough money for all of us to continue. So layoffs have taken place. One of the men I work with has been laid off. My friend has become my new brother in Christ. Heavy in heart since the news of his layoff. Prayer has been a daily routine on behalf of my new brother for a new job. I believing that my Father hears prayers and will always carry out his purposes. He will use adverse situations to carry out those purposes in our lives. My brother has been standing in his newly found faith for God’s provision, he is just getting to know his how to get involved with his new relationship with His Heavenly Father. Two ideas have come across his way. Things never thought of by him or anyone else. The first: a contractor that works in our area has told him if he can he will put him to work, and he has been talking to all of his friends asking for help putting my brother to work. The second: someone in the office area where we work, gave him an opportunity via a friend she has for an apartment complex maintenance position. Both are now considering my brother for employment. My brother and friend has a new hope and stronger belief that anything is possible with his God. Neither of these positions has been solidified but my friend has seen how his new family has come together to pray for him and offer ideas and help where possible. The best thing is that everyone who has offered prayer and ideas for him, do not attend church together. But share the same relationship with Jesus. One of these in the same Christ Family, gave an astounding reference, is a new Christian himself. God is on the throne and is always at work in every situation of life on our behalf to carry out his purposes. Call to him in everything, realize he is a creative God and can bring things to pass from things never expected or seen before. Look for him; and expect great things from him. Give your hearts to him. He wants a close tender relationship with us. Romans 8:32 tells us “if he gave up his son will he not along with him give us all things?” The next thing of the day is this: I have a friend who has some physical challenges. He has more than one disability he is dealing with, more than one issue; he is dealing with the struggle of losing of a portion of his fixed income as well. He has a lot things staked against him. A couple of other brothers and sisters in Christ have been working on a solution for him over the past few days. When I got home from work I made a few calls regarding his current status. This is when I found out he left his apartment before eviction took place. So now he is homeless, to add to his strenuous way of life. I am in the process of learning how my friend can get help with his many issues he deals with daily. Heavy in heart, I called another friend who has been struggling with a different set of issues, who is being pressed due to choices he is making. A Christian man, but never the less full of struggles. I asked him about organizations that would be likely to help out some one in the situation my first friend is facing. He began to sound off different organizations that have been willing to help out some of his friends as well as himself in times past. All of the sudden new hope was stirred up in me. New energy ignited about my homeless friend’s situation with new possibilities. New life had spawned because The Father of lights peered down into life and touched hearts and grace hope to a hopeless feeling situation. The thought came to me in mid conversation – hey I have found someone who knows how to deal with my homeless friend’s situation and has a passion for doing so. I asked this friend if he would be willing to help out. Full of excitement, a resounding yes came through the receiver of the phone! I think we are on our way to help out this homeless brother and friend and only the lord knows who else. Now that is what I am talking about! A creative God doing creative things to touch earth with his heart. On behalf of those who call on his name when in great distress. He hears us call to him. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 Stay tuned for updates.The family of God working together solutions to difficult situations.
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