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| I have not posted in awhile. I am busy all the time. I need to resurrect my passion for the Lord.
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5
Passion for the Lord. Everyone's lives are always busy. School, work, study, tv, internet....so many thing to fill our lives and be busy. Recently, I have been so busy, I don't even have time to relax. I feel like I am not giving the Lord the quality time that He and I need. I started trying to listen to some sermons on the radio. Most of the sermons are from local pastors. When I listen to some of their sermons, I am invigorated in the Lord. My commitment to Him has been weak lately, but my desire to serve Him is still there. Carving out time for Him seems impossible at times, but when I examine my life closely there are ways to spend more time with Him. When we are passionate about the Lord, we love Him with our heart, mind, and soul. It only takes a spark to get a fire growing. Pass it on. | | |
| Acts 2:36-41
36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
In this passage, we can see that the people became broken upon hearing what they did to Christ (crucified him). There was a sudden realization when they heard this that they had done something wrong. The only thing to do at that point was to repent and be baptized. In baptism, we identify with the Christ's burial and resurrection.
In today's society, brokenness comes from needing to address developmental issues, personal dysfunction, family of origin issues, breaking addictions, dealing with compulsive behaviors, and, of course dealing with spiritual issues. Some of these are triggered by loss of your abilities, lack of accomplishment, loss of a loved one, abandonment, and rejection. When we are broken, we typically feel the following:
- * loneliness;
- * anger and depression;
- * deep depression and disappointment;
- * extensive searching of our soul;
- * re-evaluation of our relationship with God;
- * a sense of weakness, futility, and worthlessness of what we have done, accomplished, attained, and/or hoped for.
In our time of brokenness, we reach a breaking point which forces us to decide to accept or reject God's help. If we reject it, we will be no better off. If we accept it, we are transformed and become a new person for the Lord. (Romans 12:1-3)
"It is doubtful that God can use any man greatly until he’s hurt him deeply." A.W. Tozer | | |
| Genesis 39
Joseph and Potiphar's Wife
Joseph was with the Lord will prosper. Others around him can see that he was with the Lord. The Lord blessed Potiphar because of Joseph. Joseph was in charge of virtually everything in the household. Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he refused. Potiphar's wife false accused Joseph of trying to be with her. Joseph was sent to prison, but the Lord was still with him and gave him success.
Even though, you are falsely accused of something, you can still be with the Lord and prosper. Joseph was wrongly imprisoned, but still prospered. Although it doesn't seem like the Lord is protecting Joseph, God's plan is at work. Eventually, good things will happen to Jospeh. At this time things don' look good, but God is still blessing him. Likewise in our life, we need to stay with the Lord in the good and the bad. We need to trust that the Lord is providing the best for us even though we don't always think so. | | |
| Proverbs 19:14
Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
If the Lord provides a prudent spouse, you are truly blessed by God. I tried to get a better understanding of prudent, so I looked at various translations. Other words used include sensible, understanding, congenial, and wise. Very much like the Proverbs 31 wife. Having someone supportive in every aspect of your life is a great blessing. In my ministry, I see how men of God have been blessed by the Lord. Their spouses are supportive of their ministry, the time they spend at church, and their spiritual life. I have seen their wife cook and bring dinner for the whole ministry, taking care of the children while they do their ministry, and much more. It is very difficult to find someone so supportive and faithful to you and the church. | | |
| Reviewing July 11, 2006
1 Corinthians 13:7
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love doesn't give up whether you are in good times or bad. There is commitment. It does not give up. In this day and age, it seems rare to experience this, but each of us can with God's love. He loves us know matter what sins we have commited. He loves us the way we are. And through love we are transformed. | | |
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