Luke 22:41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed.
Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane on the eve of His arrest and trial. He leaves the rest of the disciples behind for prayer, as is His custom, but this time takes Peter, James and John with Him to keep Him company while He prays to the Father. The three of them are about a stone's throw away from where Jesus is, which would be close enough to watch Jesus pray. We are given the detail that He knelt down while praying. I believe this detail indicates that someone was an eye witness to Jesus' prayer. It was customary for Jews to pray standing up, so I gather that whoever was watching Jesus pointed this out, due to its unfamiliarity to the Jewish eye. There are two possible reasons I can think of for this new act of worship.
First, it shows that Jesus humbled Himself before the Father. Philippians 2:8 states that He "... humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death." He was fully God, but submitted completely to the authority of the Father. He had every right to consider Himself equal with God, but took on the form of a man. We learn from other passages that three times He asks God to let this cup (the cross) pass from Him. But every time He adds that He wants His Father's will to be done, not His own. What a picture of total submission to God's will. To be willing to obey God's commands, even unto death.
Second, it is a picture of the agony He must have felt that night as the weight of being fully aware of what was to come pushed Him to His knees. Many times the burdens of our lives can be so heavy that they just immobilize us. They bring us to our knees, they break us. What a great place to be, for it is there that Jesus tells us to "come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Mat 11:28). We can cast our cares upon Jesus when they get too overwhelming and He will give us rest. But in the garden there was no one for Him to share His burden. He was the one that had to carry all the sins of the world to the cross and deal with them there. It must have been an impossible weight, yet He endured and gained victory in the end. I cannot imagine what spiritual, emotional and mental agony He must have felt, not to speak of the physical torture, but I am sure glad He did, for in this act of love He tore the veil of separation between God and man. His sacrifice allowed us access to the Father here in this life and in eternity. No greater expression of love has ever been seen in the history of the world.
Application
In all I do I must humbly submit to the will of God and recognize His authority over my life. I need to realize that I have lost the right to carry my own burdens when Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross in my stead. I need to cast them upon Him and receive His rest. I do not live for myself anymore, but for Him.
Today I will make a list of all the worries that I carry around with me and ask the Lord to take them off my back and receive His rest.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Promo Video
This is a project we had to do for class. The idea was to make a promo of ourselves. Enjoy!
Prayer in Times of Temptation
Luke 22:40 "When He (Jesus) came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."
This verse finds Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives the evening after Jesus and His disciples had their last supper. From the other gospels we know that Jesus went to a place to pray, taking only Peter, James and John with Him. If there ever was a time to pray this is it. Jesus is about to be arrested, tried, tortured and crucified. So, He goes to a quiet place to meet His Father for encouragement, instruction, and comfort, for He knows what would happen to Him the next three days. He is aware of the horrendous suffering He would have to endure and, worst of all, endure separation from God Himself. He would have to deny His God nature and carry the full weight of all sins of mankind upon His mutilated body. To find some comfort, not only does an angel come and minister to Him in this greatest hour of need, but He also takes His closest disciples, Peter, James and John, along with Him. He asks them to stay awake and pray "lest they enter into temptation."
On the surface one might assume that He was talking about the temptation to fall asleep, which, incidentally, did happen (three times!). But I believe that Jesus is addressing another temptation, one far more serious than missing the opportunity to pray for their Master in His time of need. Right before this section, we read that Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked for Peter, to sift him like wheat. In verse 32 we get an insight into what Jesus believes is the greatest weapon against the enemy: prayer. Jesus says that "I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail;..." Jesus' response to the enemy of our faith is prayer. If Jesus thought it was that important we should listen and do likewise in times of great trials and, even better, before they come. What is Jesus' greatest concern for us, the terrible temptation that we may enter into if we are not diligent in our prayers? That our faith should fail!
I cannot think of a worse place to be as a believer in Christ. That my faith should fail! What an awful thought! We know what would happen in the following hours and days and how all the disciples failed in various ways when their faiths were being tempted. But none were as sad a story as Peter's. He denied his Lord three times! He was ultimately restored to ministry in a powerful way, but I shudder to think what would have become of him had Jesus not prayed for him earlier. I pray that my faith will not fail when life throws various temptations my way. God knows I am not strong enough to withstand the clever tactics of the enemy and it is only by the grace of God that I am still walking with Him. What I can do, however, is to follow my Lord's advise and pray to the Lord of heaven and earth to strengthen my faith. The last place I ever want to find myself is denying my Savior, who went through so much pain to take my sins away. Peter gladly tells us that "the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations..." in 2 Peter 2:9. And he should know!
Application
"Lord, grant me that understanding of the power of prayer, so that my faith may be strong and no temptation will ever shake it to the point of failure. I depend on Your strength to see me through the trials in my life, and my hope lies in You alone. In Jesus' name, Amen."
This verse finds Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives the evening after Jesus and His disciples had their last supper. From the other gospels we know that Jesus went to a place to pray, taking only Peter, James and John with Him. If there ever was a time to pray this is it. Jesus is about to be arrested, tried, tortured and crucified. So, He goes to a quiet place to meet His Father for encouragement, instruction, and comfort, for He knows what would happen to Him the next three days. He is aware of the horrendous suffering He would have to endure and, worst of all, endure separation from God Himself. He would have to deny His God nature and carry the full weight of all sins of mankind upon His mutilated body. To find some comfort, not only does an angel come and minister to Him in this greatest hour of need, but He also takes His closest disciples, Peter, James and John, along with Him. He asks them to stay awake and pray "lest they enter into temptation."
On the surface one might assume that He was talking about the temptation to fall asleep, which, incidentally, did happen (three times!). But I believe that Jesus is addressing another temptation, one far more serious than missing the opportunity to pray for their Master in His time of need. Right before this section, we read that Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked for Peter, to sift him like wheat. In verse 32 we get an insight into what Jesus believes is the greatest weapon against the enemy: prayer. Jesus says that "I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail;..." Jesus' response to the enemy of our faith is prayer. If Jesus thought it was that important we should listen and do likewise in times of great trials and, even better, before they come. What is Jesus' greatest concern for us, the terrible temptation that we may enter into if we are not diligent in our prayers? That our faith should fail!
I cannot think of a worse place to be as a believer in Christ. That my faith should fail! What an awful thought! We know what would happen in the following hours and days and how all the disciples failed in various ways when their faiths were being tempted. But none were as sad a story as Peter's. He denied his Lord three times! He was ultimately restored to ministry in a powerful way, but I shudder to think what would have become of him had Jesus not prayed for him earlier. I pray that my faith will not fail when life throws various temptations my way. God knows I am not strong enough to withstand the clever tactics of the enemy and it is only by the grace of God that I am still walking with Him. What I can do, however, is to follow my Lord's advise and pray to the Lord of heaven and earth to strengthen my faith. The last place I ever want to find myself is denying my Savior, who went through so much pain to take my sins away. Peter gladly tells us that "the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations..." in 2 Peter 2:9. And he should know!
Application
"Lord, grant me that understanding of the power of prayer, so that my faith may be strong and no temptation will ever shake it to the point of failure. I depend on Your strength to see me through the trials in my life, and my hope lies in You alone. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Hannah's Thoughts
This is Hannah.
I never imagined Montana to be like this. I never thought that going into town would ever be so fun. I cannot wait until it snows if it ever does. It is very hot here and beautiful too. We have a creek by our house. We play in it a lot mostly the boys though we have had a couple rainy days. I have one friend named Mackenzie. There is a lot of bugs here mostly flies. Now that we are in Montana the driving trip is over. There is a lake nearby. In this family me and Francesca are the only ones that have been there. We live in a cabin. It is small but good enough. The Interns are funny. VERY FUNNY! I miss California a lot. These are my thoughts for the next three months.
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| a flower butterflies like |
Saturday, July 28, 2012
The Tree of Life
Proverbs 3:18 "She (wisdom) is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her."
In this section of Proverbs Solomon has shown us the attributes and benefits of wisdom. We have seen that wisdom brings us happiness, that she is worth more than precious metals or jewels, and that she is better than anything else we can desire. The benefits from having wisdom in our lives are old age, honor, riches, pleasantness, and peace. In this verse we find that not only is the man blessed that finds wisdom (verse 13), but also the man that holds on to her. What stands out to me is that the author tells us that she is as a tree of life to those that embrace her. I want to look further into this tree of life. Is this a figurative tree or a literal one. What is it all about?
We first hear of this tree as one of the many trees in the garden of Eden. But special mention is made of two of these trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:9). Of the tree of life Adam was allowed to eat, but the tree of knowledge he was to avoid under penalty of death. In Gen 3:22 God does not want man to eat anymore of the fruit of the tree of life, because He does not want them to live forever in their fallen state, so He cuts off access to the tree by removing Adam and Eve from the garden. And just to make sure He placed mighty cherubim with flaming swords at the entrance of the garden. So we see that literally eating form one tree would bring life and eating from the other would bring death. Man chose death and we are still dealing with the consequences of that decision today. The next time we encounter this tree is in Revelation 22:2 where we learn that the tree of life is in the midst of the new Jerusalem, next to the river flowing through it. It yields twelve kind of fruits every month and its leaves are for the healing of the nations. In verse 14 a blessing is pronounced on those that follow Jesus' commandments because they will be given access to the tree of life once again to have life eternal.
What is missing in that new paradise is the tree of death. In Eden, there were two trees, in the new Jerusalem there is only one. Why is that? Because Jesus has conquered death on the cross and it has lost its sting. We no longer are subjected to the curse - it has been lifted once and for all. Jesus' redeeming blood was shed on Calvary and our sinfulness has been blotted out of the heavenly accounting books. We are written in the Lamb's book of life by accepting Jesus' gift of salvation and have thus been restored to once again gain access to the tree of life. And it is through Godly wisdom given to us by the Holy Spirit in our lives that we can recognize and hold on to this gift of life. What is foolishness to the world, because they lack the Holy Spirit, has become wisdom to those that have recognized their need for a Savior and accepted Jesus as their only way back to God.
Application
Today I will remind myself of the victory over death I have in Christ. I will praise Him for allowing me access to the tree of life in the coming Jerusalem and remember the price He had to pay to grant me that access.
In this section of Proverbs Solomon has shown us the attributes and benefits of wisdom. We have seen that wisdom brings us happiness, that she is worth more than precious metals or jewels, and that she is better than anything else we can desire. The benefits from having wisdom in our lives are old age, honor, riches, pleasantness, and peace. In this verse we find that not only is the man blessed that finds wisdom (verse 13), but also the man that holds on to her. What stands out to me is that the author tells us that she is as a tree of life to those that embrace her. I want to look further into this tree of life. Is this a figurative tree or a literal one. What is it all about?
We first hear of this tree as one of the many trees in the garden of Eden. But special mention is made of two of these trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:9). Of the tree of life Adam was allowed to eat, but the tree of knowledge he was to avoid under penalty of death. In Gen 3:22 God does not want man to eat anymore of the fruit of the tree of life, because He does not want them to live forever in their fallen state, so He cuts off access to the tree by removing Adam and Eve from the garden. And just to make sure He placed mighty cherubim with flaming swords at the entrance of the garden. So we see that literally eating form one tree would bring life and eating from the other would bring death. Man chose death and we are still dealing with the consequences of that decision today. The next time we encounter this tree is in Revelation 22:2 where we learn that the tree of life is in the midst of the new Jerusalem, next to the river flowing through it. It yields twelve kind of fruits every month and its leaves are for the healing of the nations. In verse 14 a blessing is pronounced on those that follow Jesus' commandments because they will be given access to the tree of life once again to have life eternal.
What is missing in that new paradise is the tree of death. In Eden, there were two trees, in the new Jerusalem there is only one. Why is that? Because Jesus has conquered death on the cross and it has lost its sting. We no longer are subjected to the curse - it has been lifted once and for all. Jesus' redeeming blood was shed on Calvary and our sinfulness has been blotted out of the heavenly accounting books. We are written in the Lamb's book of life by accepting Jesus' gift of salvation and have thus been restored to once again gain access to the tree of life. And it is through Godly wisdom given to us by the Holy Spirit in our lives that we can recognize and hold on to this gift of life. What is foolishness to the world, because they lack the Holy Spirit, has become wisdom to those that have recognized their need for a Savior and accepted Jesus as their only way back to God.
Application
Today I will remind myself of the victory over death I have in Christ. I will praise Him for allowing me access to the tree of life in the coming Jerusalem and remember the price He had to pay to grant me that access.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The Road Less Traveled
Proverbs 3:17 "Her (wisdom) ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."
"It's a dog eat dog world out there." "You have to look out for number one." "If you don't take care of yourself, no one will." This is some of the common wisdom of the world that we all grow up hearing and in some way weave into the fabric of the tapestry that becomes our own philosophy of life. To walk the paths of life is hard, dangerous, full of traps and snares, and if you are lucky enough and have a guardian angel you may get by with just a few bumps and bruises. Is that your life? Is getting by by the skin of your teeth the best you can hope for? It is if you are out there on your own in a big and ugly world that would like nothing better than devour you and drag you down into the gutter that Satan has devised for all his followers. Survival of the fittest is the game and you better be the big dog in town. But even when you come out on top in the fight, you can really never be quite sure if you are doing the right thing, if you are on the right path. You cannot tell by the look of it, for the path to destruction and the path to success don't really look that different.
Not so for the believer that has put his life into the hands of an all-powerful and loving Savior. If we entrust our destiny to Jesus, we get to take Him by His loving hand and walk side by side with Him along the path of life. If we follow His road map and trust in His directions, under His guidance, we get to enjoy the beauty of the paths we are on and get to gaze upon the wondrous scenery along the way. We will notice the flowers on the wayside, give thanks for the trees that give needed shade, hear the brook softly running in the background, and see the butterflies fluttering around our heads. We are not alone anymore. We have a guide, a strong Father that takes us gently along the way. He will talk to us, He will laugh with us, He will be sad with us, He will have compassion for us, He will tell us when to turn, when to rest and when to run. In short, He will instruct us in the way to go in life.
As for me, I am tired of the frustration and fights of a walk where I constantly have to push and shove and look out for my best interest in order to get ahead in life. I am hungry, weary, and worn out when I have to do life on my own strength. I want God to come, take me by the hand and tell me "it's OK, just trust in Me. You can let Me lead you and I will show you the right way to go. Just follow My example and you will be all right." I want to enjoy the journey. I want to look behind with a sense of satisfaction for what I have accomplished and look forward with anticipation and hope. I want the best road trip possible with the best tour guide available - Jesus. I want the peace that His ways offer me.
Application
In order to enjoy the rewards that Jesus has to offer, I have to completely surrender my life to Him, so that He can direct me. To do that I have to learn to trust Him with all areas of my life. Today, I will prayerfully confess to another person an area of my life that I have not given over to the Lord and thus bring it into the light for God to deal with.
"It's a dog eat dog world out there." "You have to look out for number one." "If you don't take care of yourself, no one will." This is some of the common wisdom of the world that we all grow up hearing and in some way weave into the fabric of the tapestry that becomes our own philosophy of life. To walk the paths of life is hard, dangerous, full of traps and snares, and if you are lucky enough and have a guardian angel you may get by with just a few bumps and bruises. Is that your life? Is getting by by the skin of your teeth the best you can hope for? It is if you are out there on your own in a big and ugly world that would like nothing better than devour you and drag you down into the gutter that Satan has devised for all his followers. Survival of the fittest is the game and you better be the big dog in town. But even when you come out on top in the fight, you can really never be quite sure if you are doing the right thing, if you are on the right path. You cannot tell by the look of it, for the path to destruction and the path to success don't really look that different.
Not so for the believer that has put his life into the hands of an all-powerful and loving Savior. If we entrust our destiny to Jesus, we get to take Him by His loving hand and walk side by side with Him along the path of life. If we follow His road map and trust in His directions, under His guidance, we get to enjoy the beauty of the paths we are on and get to gaze upon the wondrous scenery along the way. We will notice the flowers on the wayside, give thanks for the trees that give needed shade, hear the brook softly running in the background, and see the butterflies fluttering around our heads. We are not alone anymore. We have a guide, a strong Father that takes us gently along the way. He will talk to us, He will laugh with us, He will be sad with us, He will have compassion for us, He will tell us when to turn, when to rest and when to run. In short, He will instruct us in the way to go in life.
As for me, I am tired of the frustration and fights of a walk where I constantly have to push and shove and look out for my best interest in order to get ahead in life. I am hungry, weary, and worn out when I have to do life on my own strength. I want God to come, take me by the hand and tell me "it's OK, just trust in Me. You can let Me lead you and I will show you the right way to go. Just follow My example and you will be all right." I want to enjoy the journey. I want to look behind with a sense of satisfaction for what I have accomplished and look forward with anticipation and hope. I want the best road trip possible with the best tour guide available - Jesus. I want the peace that His ways offer me.
Application
In order to enjoy the rewards that Jesus has to offer, I have to completely surrender my life to Him, so that He can direct me. To do that I have to learn to trust Him with all areas of my life. Today, I will prayerfully confess to another person an area of my life that I have not given over to the Lord and thus bring it into the light for God to deal with.
God's Perfection
Proverbs 3:16 "Length of days is in her (wisdom) right hand, in her left hand riches and honor."
When wisdom walks into your life, she carries with her length of days, riches and honor. These are the promised results of attaining wisdom in ones life. In other words the writer states that if we find wisdom and gain understanding of the things of God, if we desire to know God's way of life more than anything else in our lives, she (wisdom) will accompany us on our journey here on earth and bring with her the blessings of a long life, riches and honor. These benefits should not be the object of our desire - that is reserved for God - but naturally will be the byproducts of our efforts to walk with God. In other words, if I only want to walk with God because I hope to gain riches and honor, I will be waiting a long time for the rewards. But if I am willing to give up any hope of riches and honor and fully devote myself to the study of God's Word, along with a fulfilled life I will also reap the benefits of a long life, a rich and fulfilled existence, and a place of respect and honor amongst my peers. God's counsel, by design, will lead me to all that is good and I will be blessed beyond measure. The Psalmist says that
I have attempted many projects and tried to succeed in many areas in my life, but have to admit that most of the time the success has been marginal at best. It is a source of great frustration for me that no matter how much I apply myself, I just cannot produce the kind of results I long for. I have to admit that I am a perfectionist and usually set the standard so high that I cannot ever reach it. But is that wrong? Is it utopian thinking to want to attain perfection? Is it foolishness to reach for the stars? I also have to confess that I am a romantic and that my heart yearns for such things as true love, a sunset on the beach, a world without evil, and living in perfect harmony. The mistake in my thinking all along has not been that I am living in a silly dream world, but rather that I failed to recognize the effect of sin on this world. There once was perfection in God's creation and sin destroyed it. When Adam gave into the temptation of the devil it was all over until another Adam came to this world and dealt with sin once and for all. His name was Jesus and He offered himself up as a perfect substitute for the payment that had to be made to deal with deadly sin. It is because of Jesus that I can hope to see a perfect world one day and in the meantime can reap the benefits of a life spent learning and obeying His heavenly instructions.
Application
When I get discouraged today because of my failure to live up to my expectations once again, I need to confess that sin before God and repent. Like Paul, I need to "press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:14). I will read Romans 8 three times tonight.
When wisdom walks into your life, she carries with her length of days, riches and honor. These are the promised results of attaining wisdom in ones life. In other words the writer states that if we find wisdom and gain understanding of the things of God, if we desire to know God's way of life more than anything else in our lives, she (wisdom) will accompany us on our journey here on earth and bring with her the blessings of a long life, riches and honor. These benefits should not be the object of our desire - that is reserved for God - but naturally will be the byproducts of our efforts to walk with God. In other words, if I only want to walk with God because I hope to gain riches and honor, I will be waiting a long time for the rewards. But if I am willing to give up any hope of riches and honor and fully devote myself to the study of God's Word, along with a fulfilled life I will also reap the benefits of a long life, a rich and fulfilled existence, and a place of respect and honor amongst my peers. God's counsel, by design, will lead me to all that is good and I will be blessed beyond measure. The Psalmist says that
"[the blessed man's] delight is in the law of the LORD,
and in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that brings forth its fruit in its season,
whose leaf also shall not wither;
and whatever he does shall prosper." (Psalm 1:2-3)
I have attempted many projects and tried to succeed in many areas in my life, but have to admit that most of the time the success has been marginal at best. It is a source of great frustration for me that no matter how much I apply myself, I just cannot produce the kind of results I long for. I have to admit that I am a perfectionist and usually set the standard so high that I cannot ever reach it. But is that wrong? Is it utopian thinking to want to attain perfection? Is it foolishness to reach for the stars? I also have to confess that I am a romantic and that my heart yearns for such things as true love, a sunset on the beach, a world without evil, and living in perfect harmony. The mistake in my thinking all along has not been that I am living in a silly dream world, but rather that I failed to recognize the effect of sin on this world. There once was perfection in God's creation and sin destroyed it. When Adam gave into the temptation of the devil it was all over until another Adam came to this world and dealt with sin once and for all. His name was Jesus and He offered himself up as a perfect substitute for the payment that had to be made to deal with deadly sin. It is because of Jesus that I can hope to see a perfect world one day and in the meantime can reap the benefits of a life spent learning and obeying His heavenly instructions.
Application
When I get discouraged today because of my failure to live up to my expectations once again, I need to confess that sin before God and repent. Like Paul, I need to "press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:14). I will read Romans 8 three times tonight.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Godly Choices
Proverbs 3:15 "She (wisdom) is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her." NKJV
We find ourselves here looking at a proverb by Solomon in which he talks about the value of wisdom. It is nestled in a series of proverbs on wisdom where he wants to show us that wisdom and the attainment of it is a most worthy pursuit in our lives. The previous verses talk about the blessings that come from finding wisdom and gaining understanding. The value of having wisdom is greater than silver or gold, and now, in this verse, even better than rubies, or jewels. None of these valuables, or anything else we can desire will compare to the gift of wisdom. That is a bold statement. One that requires further investigation. I desire many things in my life: health, to walk with God, a blessed marriage, good friends, happy children, to have an impact in my world for Christ, and many others. Yet he claims none of these can compare with wisdom.
I believe that Solomon here talks to all of us who run after stuff in order to fill the hole that the Spirit left in us when we drifted away from God. Pascal, the French scientist, said that we were all born with a God shaped vacuum in our lives that only He can fill. We run after all manners of desires and try to fill the emptiness inside us where God belongs. Yet ultimately none of these things can satisfy and end the longing for meaning and purpose, peace of soul and mind. Wisdom, the application of God's truths in our lives, Godly discernment in our daily walk, will lead us to a place where we chose the things that put God back where He belongs: on the throne of our hearts. Wisdom from on high will allow us to make choices that honor God and glorify Him and thus keep us walking close to Him every day. Sin will separate us from the Lord and His peace in our lives. It grieves the Holy Spirit and He will withdraw for He cannot be in the presence of it. He is holy. But when we walk in wisdom, we continuously make the kind of choices that bless God and thus allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with the power He has for us. Like Enoch, we can walk with God so closely that the lines between heaven and earth will become blurred.
O how I long for a time when I no longer make those stupid decisions that haunt me afterwards. I can think of countless example of choices in my life where I looked to the flesh and not God in deciding what to do. And I am still paying the price. The path of destruction is wide and there are many bodies strewn about in the wake of my life. Like many a war veteran I still carry around the scars from all those times I went down the wrong path and had to face the consequences of my actions. While I am washed white as snow as a Cristian, God still requires me to pay the price of my actions, for we have a just God that is always fair in his judgements. As I grow in my Christian walk, and my wisdom increases, there are far fewer selfish acts, and I long for the day that I can be with Jesus, never again to be separated from Him because of my foolish decisions. Therefore to desire wisdom is to desire walking close to God and there truly is no more worthwhile treasure to attain in all the world.
Application
Today, I will consciously pray to God before every decision I make. I will ask for His wisdom to fill me and for Him to show me the better way.
We find ourselves here looking at a proverb by Solomon in which he talks about the value of wisdom. It is nestled in a series of proverbs on wisdom where he wants to show us that wisdom and the attainment of it is a most worthy pursuit in our lives. The previous verses talk about the blessings that come from finding wisdom and gaining understanding. The value of having wisdom is greater than silver or gold, and now, in this verse, even better than rubies, or jewels. None of these valuables, or anything else we can desire will compare to the gift of wisdom. That is a bold statement. One that requires further investigation. I desire many things in my life: health, to walk with God, a blessed marriage, good friends, happy children, to have an impact in my world for Christ, and many others. Yet he claims none of these can compare with wisdom.
I believe that Solomon here talks to all of us who run after stuff in order to fill the hole that the Spirit left in us when we drifted away from God. Pascal, the French scientist, said that we were all born with a God shaped vacuum in our lives that only He can fill. We run after all manners of desires and try to fill the emptiness inside us where God belongs. Yet ultimately none of these things can satisfy and end the longing for meaning and purpose, peace of soul and mind. Wisdom, the application of God's truths in our lives, Godly discernment in our daily walk, will lead us to a place where we chose the things that put God back where He belongs: on the throne of our hearts. Wisdom from on high will allow us to make choices that honor God and glorify Him and thus keep us walking close to Him every day. Sin will separate us from the Lord and His peace in our lives. It grieves the Holy Spirit and He will withdraw for He cannot be in the presence of it. He is holy. But when we walk in wisdom, we continuously make the kind of choices that bless God and thus allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with the power He has for us. Like Enoch, we can walk with God so closely that the lines between heaven and earth will become blurred.
O how I long for a time when I no longer make those stupid decisions that haunt me afterwards. I can think of countless example of choices in my life where I looked to the flesh and not God in deciding what to do. And I am still paying the price. The path of destruction is wide and there are many bodies strewn about in the wake of my life. Like many a war veteran I still carry around the scars from all those times I went down the wrong path and had to face the consequences of my actions. While I am washed white as snow as a Cristian, God still requires me to pay the price of my actions, for we have a just God that is always fair in his judgements. As I grow in my Christian walk, and my wisdom increases, there are far fewer selfish acts, and I long for the day that I can be with Jesus, never again to be separated from Him because of my foolish decisions. Therefore to desire wisdom is to desire walking close to God and there truly is no more worthwhile treasure to attain in all the world.
Application
Today, I will consciously pray to God before every decision I make. I will ask for His wisdom to fill me and for Him to show me the better way.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Godly Wisdom
Proverbs 3:13-14: "Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold."
In this proverb penned by king Solomon, the wisest man ever to live, we learn that the man that finds wisdom and gains understanding will be a happy man, with riches far greater than gold or silver. When I consider Solomon's life I find it almost sad to think that here we have a man that was blessed with the greatest amount of wisdom known to us, yet his entire life was spent in the pursuit of happiness. He would have done well to consider his own advise when he said in chapter one verse 7: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Whether Solomon wrote this in the latter days of his life looking back upon the train wreck his reign had been, or these were words of fatherly advise given to him by king David, it is clear from his record that he did not heed these words. Solomon indulged himself in every kind of earthly pleasure in order to be happy, spent tremendous amounts of resources, married 700 women and had 300 concubines, but did not attain that which we all long for: peace in his soul. Whether he did find it at the end of his life we are not sure, but we do know that he was full of regrets. Solomon started well, but failed miserably in the end. How could this happen to a man with such a godly heritage and such a huge blessing from the Lord?
I believe the key in this passage is found in the little words "find" and "gains." Happy, or blessed, is the man who finds wisdom and gains understanding. You see, Solomon received wisdom and understanding from the Lord as a gift. He didn't have to search it out; find it through years of learning and searching the scriptures. He didn't attain it through developing a devotional life, learning discipline in walking with the Lord. Wisdom is a treasure that the Lord will bestow upon us to value and keep dear because it is a result of years of learning from our own mistakes. Solomon received it as a gift all at once, only to neglect it and discard it, for it was so easily obtained. The more we have to work for a thing the more value we place upon it. The lesson here we can all learn from Solomon is not to pursue happiness with all the resources we have, but rather pursue God with all our hearts. When the fear of the Lord is our motivation to go through life and we have developed an attitude of devotion through a disciplined life style, then we will find wisdom, gain understanding, and the end result will be a blessed (happy) life.
Application
Today I will take some extra time to study wisdom in the Bible, find some key verses and learn them during my time with the Lord on the mount ( a two hour time of devotion set aside for the Lord).
In this proverb penned by king Solomon, the wisest man ever to live, we learn that the man that finds wisdom and gains understanding will be a happy man, with riches far greater than gold or silver. When I consider Solomon's life I find it almost sad to think that here we have a man that was blessed with the greatest amount of wisdom known to us, yet his entire life was spent in the pursuit of happiness. He would have done well to consider his own advise when he said in chapter one verse 7: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Whether Solomon wrote this in the latter days of his life looking back upon the train wreck his reign had been, or these were words of fatherly advise given to him by king David, it is clear from his record that he did not heed these words. Solomon indulged himself in every kind of earthly pleasure in order to be happy, spent tremendous amounts of resources, married 700 women and had 300 concubines, but did not attain that which we all long for: peace in his soul. Whether he did find it at the end of his life we are not sure, but we do know that he was full of regrets. Solomon started well, but failed miserably in the end. How could this happen to a man with such a godly heritage and such a huge blessing from the Lord?
I believe the key in this passage is found in the little words "find" and "gains." Happy, or blessed, is the man who finds wisdom and gains understanding. You see, Solomon received wisdom and understanding from the Lord as a gift. He didn't have to search it out; find it through years of learning and searching the scriptures. He didn't attain it through developing a devotional life, learning discipline in walking with the Lord. Wisdom is a treasure that the Lord will bestow upon us to value and keep dear because it is a result of years of learning from our own mistakes. Solomon received it as a gift all at once, only to neglect it and discard it, for it was so easily obtained. The more we have to work for a thing the more value we place upon it. The lesson here we can all learn from Solomon is not to pursue happiness with all the resources we have, but rather pursue God with all our hearts. When the fear of the Lord is our motivation to go through life and we have developed an attitude of devotion through a disciplined life style, then we will find wisdom, gain understanding, and the end result will be a blessed (happy) life.
Application
Today I will take some extra time to study wisdom in the Bible, find some key verses and learn them during my time with the Lord on the mount ( a two hour time of devotion set aside for the Lord).
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Love suffers long
1 Cor 13:4 - "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;"
In chapters 12, 13 and 14 the apostle Paul is writing to the church in Corinth about spiritual gifts. In chapter 12 he especially points out the dangers of applying the gifts the wrong way. It can lead to division in the body and conflict among the members. In verse 25 Paul states "that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another." Later in the same chapter he tells us that there is "a more excellent way" (verse 31) to use the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit. In chapter 13 he explains that if one uses the gifts "but has not love it profits ... nothing" (verse 3).
Here in verse 4 Paul now starts to show us what this love looks like and he describes its attributes. Most of these statements seem to be almost self explanatory and natural, but the one that has me stop and consider for a moment is the one about "love suffers long." How can it be that the Holy Spirit would suggest through Paul that it is desirable for us to suffer, even suffer long? Isn't it bad to suffer? don't we fight wars to end suffering and donate millions every year to contribute to the end of suffering? Don't psychologists tell us that suffering, especially in children, will produce lifelong issues that we will have to deal with in therapy? And not only is it in this list of attributes, it is the first one! Paul says that first and foremost "love suffers long." How can this be?
The picture that best describes this aspect of Christlike love for me is the body of our crucified Lord on Calvary hill. From the time that Jesus was sweating blood in the garden to the moment He gave up His Spirit, He suffered. And believe you me, He suffered long. I venture to say that was the longest day He had to endure by any ones standard. But He was God! Why did He endure the pain and suffering? He could have called upon legions of angels to come down from heaven and rescue Him. He endured for one simple purpose: He loved us! It was that love that motivated Him to see His torture through to the end, for He knew what it would mean for you and me: eternal fellowship with God. He suffered for a while to enjoy us for eternity.
Application
If Jesus could endure the horrific abuse that He had to face and not take His eyes off of me and His love for me, even for a moment, I think I can bite my lips and suck up my pride when my fellow believers do not treat me as I think they should. I need to keep the end in mind, as Jesus did, and endure the injustice. Next time I am treated as a servant, I can just remember that that is what Jesus calls us to anyway: to serve others.
Specific Application
I can put my fellow students before myself by laboring in prayer for them. I will pray for one of them each day for the next 17 days.
In chapters 12, 13 and 14 the apostle Paul is writing to the church in Corinth about spiritual gifts. In chapter 12 he especially points out the dangers of applying the gifts the wrong way. It can lead to division in the body and conflict among the members. In verse 25 Paul states "that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another." Later in the same chapter he tells us that there is "a more excellent way" (verse 31) to use the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit. In chapter 13 he explains that if one uses the gifts "but has not love it profits ... nothing" (verse 3).
Here in verse 4 Paul now starts to show us what this love looks like and he describes its attributes. Most of these statements seem to be almost self explanatory and natural, but the one that has me stop and consider for a moment is the one about "love suffers long." How can it be that the Holy Spirit would suggest through Paul that it is desirable for us to suffer, even suffer long? Isn't it bad to suffer? don't we fight wars to end suffering and donate millions every year to contribute to the end of suffering? Don't psychologists tell us that suffering, especially in children, will produce lifelong issues that we will have to deal with in therapy? And not only is it in this list of attributes, it is the first one! Paul says that first and foremost "love suffers long." How can this be?
The picture that best describes this aspect of Christlike love for me is the body of our crucified Lord on Calvary hill. From the time that Jesus was sweating blood in the garden to the moment He gave up His Spirit, He suffered. And believe you me, He suffered long. I venture to say that was the longest day He had to endure by any ones standard. But He was God! Why did He endure the pain and suffering? He could have called upon legions of angels to come down from heaven and rescue Him. He endured for one simple purpose: He loved us! It was that love that motivated Him to see His torture through to the end, for He knew what it would mean for you and me: eternal fellowship with God. He suffered for a while to enjoy us for eternity.
Application
If Jesus could endure the horrific abuse that He had to face and not take His eyes off of me and His love for me, even for a moment, I think I can bite my lips and suck up my pride when my fellow believers do not treat me as I think they should. I need to keep the end in mind, as Jesus did, and endure the injustice. Next time I am treated as a servant, I can just remember that that is what Jesus calls us to anyway: to serve others.
Specific Application
I can put my fellow students before myself by laboring in prayer for them. I will pray for one of them each day for the next 17 days.
Friday, July 20, 2012
My new life
Its ok here in Montana. Its very beautiful but there are lots of mosquitoes. We have breakfast at eight (ugh), which means that we are up at seven; not pleasant when you don't fall asleep until 10 or 11. I have made quite a few friends up here though I still miss my Thousand Oaks friends :-(. I do school during the day. We have Chapel on Tuesday and Church on Sunday. Benjamin is quite the attraction here - he has almost all the older girls wrapped around his finger. I just saw the new Ice Age movie with dad, the other kids, and a friend of ours named Scott who is a lot of fun. We are in a small cabin with 3 bunkbeds. There is not a lot of extra room. We are living right by a creek which the kids like to play in. There are around 20 girls here and about 10 boys. The little kids have all made friends already (actually almost the day that we came.) This is my new life for three months.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Sweet times in the Lord
What an amazing experience it is to be here at Potter's Field Ranch. It is hard to put into words, but I feel so blessed to have the privilege to be here. Every day is just a joy to partake in this experience. Here is a typical day for me:
8am breakfast
9am - 10:30am class
10:30am - 12pm class
12pm - 1:30pm lunch
1:30pm - 3pm class
3pm - 5:30pm class
5:30pm - 6:30pm dinner
Then Tuesday night chapel, Thursday night Bible study, and Sunday morning Church. Saturday is usually make up sessions. I currently have four books to read and there is homework in most classes. The classes are: IBS (inductive Bible study), study in the book of Acts, worship, Media ministry, languages (Spanish for now), devotional IBS, verbal IBS, and more to come. I am busy from the moment I get up to the moment I go to sleep. BUT, I have to pinch myself that I get to do this. It is so interesting to me that most of the students here are so focused on how busy they are that they miss the blessings at times. The second week is not even over and I already feel like I have spent a semester in Bible college. And it has just begun. We have extraordinary Bible teachers and are being bathed in the Scriptures. We are forced (yeah right, that's what I thought) to spend time in the Word and quiet prayer time. This is what I always dreamt of when I was running around in Thousand Oaks trying to get everything done and it seemed like there was never enough time to spend with the Lord. I only regret not having more time with my family. I also wish I could share better with them what I experience.
Last night we went to a wrestling camp in the area and Mike Rozell did his presentation. Afterwards he had an altar call and several of the young High School wrestlers came forward. Plus one adult. The Holy Spirit was moving so powerfully. Afterwards there was a baptism in the river. What a glorious time! God working in the hearts of His people and touching new lives. After the baptism one of the wrestlers came up and said that he never felt this loved before. What a statement! To immediately equate the conversion experience with the supernatural love of the Savior; that takes me back to when I first experienced the precious love of my Savior. Sweet times! O Lord that you never stop your work here on earth. It makes me shudder to think of a time when the Holy Spirit will remove Himself from here and allow Satan free range for a season. I sure don't want to be here then.
You can probably tell I am excited - not in a small part due to six hours of Bible teaching from Pastor Don McClure today. It is late, I am tired and my hand hurts from all the note taking in class, so I am signing out for now.
God bless you and good night,
Raoul.
8am breakfast
9am - 10:30am class
10:30am - 12pm class
12pm - 1:30pm lunch
1:30pm - 3pm class
3pm - 5:30pm class
5:30pm - 6:30pm dinner
Then Tuesday night chapel, Thursday night Bible study, and Sunday morning Church. Saturday is usually make up sessions. I currently have four books to read and there is homework in most classes. The classes are: IBS (inductive Bible study), study in the book of Acts, worship, Media ministry, languages (Spanish for now), devotional IBS, verbal IBS, and more to come. I am busy from the moment I get up to the moment I go to sleep. BUT, I have to pinch myself that I get to do this. It is so interesting to me that most of the students here are so focused on how busy they are that they miss the blessings at times. The second week is not even over and I already feel like I have spent a semester in Bible college. And it has just begun. We have extraordinary Bible teachers and are being bathed in the Scriptures. We are forced (yeah right, that's what I thought) to spend time in the Word and quiet prayer time. This is what I always dreamt of when I was running around in Thousand Oaks trying to get everything done and it seemed like there was never enough time to spend with the Lord. I only regret not having more time with my family. I also wish I could share better with them what I experience.
Last night we went to a wrestling camp in the area and Mike Rozell did his presentation. Afterwards he had an altar call and several of the young High School wrestlers came forward. Plus one adult. The Holy Spirit was moving so powerfully. Afterwards there was a baptism in the river. What a glorious time! God working in the hearts of His people and touching new lives. After the baptism one of the wrestlers came up and said that he never felt this loved before. What a statement! To immediately equate the conversion experience with the supernatural love of the Savior; that takes me back to when I first experienced the precious love of my Savior. Sweet times! O Lord that you never stop your work here on earth. It makes me shudder to think of a time when the Holy Spirit will remove Himself from here and allow Satan free range for a season. I sure don't want to be here then.
You can probably tell I am excited - not in a small part due to six hours of Bible teaching from Pastor Don McClure today. It is late, I am tired and my hand hurts from all the note taking in class, so I am signing out for now.
God bless you and good night,
Raoul.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Jesus prays for His own
Hi there! As it is thundering and lightning here in Montana, I am sitting in my cabin and am once again trying to overcome my aversion to writing. Lord, please give me the ability to put into words the thoughts that are in my head. One of the tasks that we have been given here at the training ranch is to meditate on verses and write a devotional IBS (inductive Bible study) on them. So, in the next three months you will see a number of little devotionals here as the Lord leads. I pray that they are a blessing to you. Here is the first one:
John 17:20 - "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;"
In this verse Jesus prays to His Father and talks to Him about those that are on His heart: His disciples. Jesus, knowing all things (John 13:1), knew that His end was drawing near. In these last days before the cross, He focused on those messages He wanted to still address during the time He had left. We get an insight here into Jesus' heart. Who is on His mind? Who does He want to lift up in prayer? What is His concern during this important time in His ministry? It is His love for His disciples (John 13:1 - "... He loved them to the end...") that motivated them to lift them up in prayer before His Father. But not only them, but also future disciples. His concern is not for His own well-being, but rather He is setting Hid eternal, spiritual affairs in order; He addresses His legacy - that which meant most to Him: us!
Application
When the cares of this world get the better of me and I am feeling down and sorry for myself in my current situation, I need to remember Jesus and that He, first and foremost, was concerned with the well-being of others. Not selfish putty, but selfless service will result in a restored joy and purposefulness in my life. Get my eyes off of myself and my situation and onto others is Jesus' lesson. Serve with love and the joy will be restored.
John 17:20 - "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;"
In this verse Jesus prays to His Father and talks to Him about those that are on His heart: His disciples. Jesus, knowing all things (John 13:1), knew that His end was drawing near. In these last days before the cross, He focused on those messages He wanted to still address during the time He had left. We get an insight here into Jesus' heart. Who is on His mind? Who does He want to lift up in prayer? What is His concern during this important time in His ministry? It is His love for His disciples (John 13:1 - "... He loved them to the end...") that motivated them to lift them up in prayer before His Father. But not only them, but also future disciples. His concern is not for His own well-being, but rather He is setting Hid eternal, spiritual affairs in order; He addresses His legacy - that which meant most to Him: us!
Application
When the cares of this world get the better of me and I am feeling down and sorry for myself in my current situation, I need to remember Jesus and that He, first and foremost, was concerned with the well-being of others. Not selfish putty, but selfless service will result in a restored joy and purposefulness in my life. Get my eyes off of myself and my situation and onto others is Jesus' lesson. Serve with love and the joy will be restored.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
The Suburban Has Landed!
Ingrid here.
After being on the road, having loads of fun visiting friends, eating way too much McDonalds and watching too much TV, we have arrived at Potter's Field Ranch for the next God phase of our lives.
It is beautiful here with lots of greenery, lots of mosquitoes and lots of adjustments. On the plus side there is a shallow stream next to our cabin that the children can play in. They have built dams and islands, along with loosing a flip-flop or two. God has blessed each child with a friend. The interns here are incredible: they are child friendly and conversational with the kids. Eric may have the opportunity to help with the horses here - a dream of his. Francesca, her usual helpful self, has volunteered in the kitchen for KP clean-up. They don't have her cooking yet. Hannah is the most homesick, although it seems to disappear with the prospect of a good pretend with her newest best friend. Nathan and Benjamin have collected bugs, mostly ants and then killed them with an over dose of a Starburst candy. Sugar really does kill! On the challenge side... Laundry time and space are limited. The tent seems to collect moisture and then drip inside - not drastic, just annoying. The mosquitoes are relentless - a visit to the porto-potty is not without later inconvenience.
As usual, God is good. He brought the Linquist family here this past week just for us I think. In one of many conversations, Loren mentioned that when you enter into full time ministry there is a crushing that happens so that you are really useful for God's plan. Needless to say, I am hoping that some of that has already happened in the last 15 years of walking with Him. When I hear comments like that, I feel I need to hold my breath and brace myself for it, but then I can't really hold my breath that long, so I am in the state of mind of GETTING READY to hold my breath.
Uganda seems a long way away right now. Even talking with the Linquists doesn't make it any more real. But that is the beauty of God, a pillar of fire by night and a cloud smoke during the day- not a printed five year plan. So, I will keep you all informed as I get it!
After being on the road, having loads of fun visiting friends, eating way too much McDonalds and watching too much TV, we have arrived at Potter's Field Ranch for the next God phase of our lives.
It is beautiful here with lots of greenery, lots of mosquitoes and lots of adjustments. On the plus side there is a shallow stream next to our cabin that the children can play in. They have built dams and islands, along with loosing a flip-flop or two. God has blessed each child with a friend. The interns here are incredible: they are child friendly and conversational with the kids. Eric may have the opportunity to help with the horses here - a dream of his. Francesca, her usual helpful self, has volunteered in the kitchen for KP clean-up. They don't have her cooking yet. Hannah is the most homesick, although it seems to disappear with the prospect of a good pretend with her newest best friend. Nathan and Benjamin have collected bugs, mostly ants and then killed them with an over dose of a Starburst candy. Sugar really does kill! On the challenge side... Laundry time and space are limited. The tent seems to collect moisture and then drip inside - not drastic, just annoying. The mosquitoes are relentless - a visit to the porto-potty is not without later inconvenience.
As usual, God is good. He brought the Linquist family here this past week just for us I think. In one of many conversations, Loren mentioned that when you enter into full time ministry there is a crushing that happens so that you are really useful for God's plan. Needless to say, I am hoping that some of that has already happened in the last 15 years of walking with Him. When I hear comments like that, I feel I need to hold my breath and brace myself for it, but then I can't really hold my breath that long, so I am in the state of mind of GETTING READY to hold my breath.
Uganda seems a long way away right now. Even talking with the Linquists doesn't make it any more real. But that is the beauty of God, a pillar of fire by night and a cloud smoke during the day- not a printed five year plan. So, I will keep you all informed as I get it!
Let the blogging begin!
Well, here goes nothing. I have to tell you that I hate writing. and I don't say this lightly. I really mean it. For me to have to write a paper or put my thoughts into any kind of written form is a form of torture. When picking a major in college I narrowed it down to any subject that didn't require writing, so I ended up with one of the sciences, Physics to be precise. Give me a problem to solve or an equation - no problem. But writing anything?
Ok, here we are at Potter's Field Ministries Ranch to receive Missionary training, so that we can go to Uganda and help out there and what do they tell me: you need to communicate, communicate, communicate! Hey, I just wanted them to give me a job and let me do it, but no, in order to stay connected and keep people informed, we have to Facebook, blog, journal, email, write letters, and send out newsletters. And all this requires the written form of communication. Can't I just Skype everyone?
So, this blog is designed to give all of you that are interested some insight into our family and our journey first to and then in Uganda. I pray that this will bless you and maybe even interest you to pursue ministry further. It is a blessing and a privilege to do work for the Lord full time and it would not be possible without the prayers and support of so many of you. I am truly humbled the Lord wants to use us/me and my only prayer is that we have the kind of heart that He can use for His kingdom.
Alright then, so stay tuned to this blog as we will update periodically what is going on in our lives. Write back to us if you have any insights or questions.
God bless,
Raoul, Ingrid, Eric, Francesca, Hannah, Nathan, Benjamin
Ok, here we are at Potter's Field Ministries Ranch to receive Missionary training, so that we can go to Uganda and help out there and what do they tell me: you need to communicate, communicate, communicate! Hey, I just wanted them to give me a job and let me do it, but no, in order to stay connected and keep people informed, we have to Facebook, blog, journal, email, write letters, and send out newsletters. And all this requires the written form of communication. Can't I just Skype everyone?
So, this blog is designed to give all of you that are interested some insight into our family and our journey first to and then in Uganda. I pray that this will bless you and maybe even interest you to pursue ministry further. It is a blessing and a privilege to do work for the Lord full time and it would not be possible without the prayers and support of so many of you. I am truly humbled the Lord wants to use us/me and my only prayer is that we have the kind of heart that He can use for His kingdom.
Alright then, so stay tuned to this blog as we will update periodically what is going on in our lives. Write back to us if you have any insights or questions.
God bless,
Raoul, Ingrid, Eric, Francesca, Hannah, Nathan, Benjamin
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