Day Eight 2012

Eight days in. It has been a very hectic week. That's not a moniker to put on my jacket. Just admitting that I'm tired. I didn't get a day off this week so I need to focus better and prioritize. That is to say that I'm going to have to not do some things this week that I would like to do. Or delegate them out. I am also not completing my goal of posting once a day.

We have a couple people in the hospital right now. Remember to pray for Char and Shirley. Char just had her knee operated on for replacement and is doing well. Will  probably come home tomorrow. Home is not literal. She will be staying with her sister. Also, her mother just went in to the hospital and Char is concerned about her. If you would like to send Char something, Tom S. has the address. Also, Shirley is in the hospital with an infection, influenza and pneumonia. They are giving her meds and she is recovering. She has good friends and family come see her and seems comfortable.

God has answered our prayers with Char and Shirley as well. Both are doing well and recovering. Char feels really well and is healing. Shirley's cough has improved a lot!

Today we are going to talk about Service. Servanthood. I am applying the text from John 13:1-17. I wanted to list out some things that I can't fit into the sermon. Here is a list of Self-Righteous Service determiners, not Self-Giving Service determiners.

1. Make a Big Deal
2. External Rewards
3. Pick and Choose
4. Moods and Whims
5. Temporary
6. Insensitive
7. Fractures Community

I will briefly explain them.

1. If we make a big deal and draw attention to ourselves then it is about serving yourself not the thing or person you are serving.
2. If there is a reward for you. You get something out of it. A new car. A piece of candy. If the question in your mind is "What am I getting out of this?" then you are not giving with the right heart.
3. When we choose who to help and who or what not to help or do, we are neglecting God's work in our lives and theirs. Walk with God and you will know the right ways to help. Sometimes it is not apparent in what they are saying they need, or the perceived need. God will help. Ask him.
4. "I don't feel like it." Many are those that receive no help or do not receive the gift of love through service from others because of this attitude.
5. "True service is a lifestyle." It isn't something that is orchestrated necessarily (out of necessity via laxity). It comes from within and floods others.
6. Self-giving love is sensitive to staying tuned in to others. Sometimes the best service is listening. Doing nothing. Being there.
7. Self-serving is all about the one person. Or the group. It divides some or one from others. The thought is that I did this and I am better than them. Even if we don't say it. We think it.

If you find yourselves serving others and one of these thoughts goes through you mind, it needs to be expunged. It is not from God. It is either the evil one spurring you or your human self coming through. Ask God to remove this spirit from you. Ask him to cleanse you from it and give it over to Him. He is a God that sanctifies.

Day Four 2012

Today is the fourth day of my fast. I meant to blog every day and that hasn't happened. Not off to a good start!

I was hoping to blog each day and have a small devotional thought plus list some prayer needs that I have prayed for. Maybe I can start today and go forward.

Today, Shirley is on my mind. I just found out she went to the hospital yesterday. She asked for something to read so tomorrow I'll go over and take her a book.

Char needs prayer. I know she is getting ready for her operation tomorrow.

Cathy is on my mind too. She is having a hard time with her stomach issues and it is knocking her out from doing the things she wants to do.

Dan Bohi is traveling and preaching at churches and will be here next Thursday and Friday. These services will be at 7 pm. I believe he will help us draw closer to God and give our lives to living a holy life. I am excited to see what God is going to do. I am praying that he will use Dan to transform our hearts.

- - - -

This morning I read about David testing out his armor and it not working for him. So he took it off and instead picked five smooth stones. He then went forward with God's power and those five stones.

It only took one. One stone. That is God's power. We prepare and then we give it to God. He takes it and says, "Watch what I am gonna do!" And he does the amazing. And ultimately this led to him becoming the king of Israel.

The question my book asked was, "What are your five stones?" And she was talking about picking five pieces of Scripture to be the mainstay of what your stand on during this time of preparation for whatever God has in store for you. This is all about seeking God. Knowing him well.

How many of us would say we know God well? If God walked up to us in the flesh, would we be able to say that he is our best friend? Would God agree based on His experience with us? Do we "hang out"' with God on a regular basis?

Dirty Little Secret Lyrics

Hello all!

This song is performed by The All-American Rejects. Here are the lyrics:


Let me know that I've done wrong
When I've known this all along
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you

Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know

I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret

Who has to know
When we live such fragile lives
It's the best way we survive
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you

Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know

I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret

Who has to know
The way she feels inside (inside)
Those thoughts I can't deny (deny)
These sleeping thoughts won't lie (won't lie)
And all I've tried to hide
It's eating me apart
Trace this life out

I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret)

I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret
Dirty little secret
Dirty little secret

Who has to know
Who has to know

Egg coloring

 

Grandpa, Mimi, Audrey and Eliya coloring eggs on our visit. So much fun!

 

An Impactful Poem

One day I looked at myself, 

At the self that Christ can see; 

I saw the person I am today 

And the one I ought to be. 

I saw how little I really pray, 

How little I really do; 

I saw the influence of my life—

How little of it was true! 

I saw the bundle of faults and fears 

I ought to lay on the shelf; 

I had given a little bit to God, 

But I hadn’t given myself. 

I came from seeing myself, 

With the mind made up to be

The sort of person that Christ can use

With a heart He may always see. 

Celebration of Fasting

I thought I would post some more information about Fasting.

Here are all the references I found in the Bible. I know there are more in there, so feel free to add them in the comments!

Scripture	Fasting Content
Nehemiah 1:4	Confessing, mourning, petitioning
Daniel 9:3	Seek Answer, petitioning, sackcloth and ashes
Isaiah 58:1-14	Fasting as Duty- True Worship!
Zechariah 7:1-7 and 8:18-19	Fast for God, No Hypocritical Fasting! Joy Filled Fast
Deuteronomy 9:9	God sustained Moses
1 Kings 19:8	Elijah was sustained by God and went 40days/n
Esther 4:16	Consecrate, Esther and People
Luke 5:33-35	Bridegroom is here, Feast! Fast later.
Acts 14:23	Consecrated to the Lord, church
Acts 13:2	Holy Spirit Answered, Paul and Barnabas consecrated
Acts 9:9	Saul fasted after Damascus
2 Corinthians 11:27	Suffering for Christ, Paul, fasting often.
Matthew 9:15	Parallel to Luke 5:33

Scripture	Corporate Fasting Content
Joel 2:12-15	Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Set apart yourself for a fast. Sanctify the congregation!
Leviticus 23:27	Day of Atonement Fast! Commandment.
2 Chronicles 20:1-4	Jehoshaphat proclaimed a corporate fast to seek help from God!
Jonah 3:4-10	Repentance. Petition.
Ezra 8:21-23	Corporate Fast, Petitioning God for safety.
Luke 2:37	Anna living in temple. Way of life. Presented to God.
Acts 13:2	Consecrated for service. Paul and Barnabas
Zechariah 7:5	Fast for the people’s relationship with God. Don’t fast for God. Fast for yourself.
Psalm 69:10	Petitioning God. Humbled my soul.
John 4:32,34	My food is the will of God who sent me. Complete his work. God sustains. Food does not.

I thought it might help to see how pervasive fasting is in the Bible. I think I have a couple of these duplicated because they had to do with fasting and with corporate fasting both.

Have a great week!