Sunday, October 3, 2010
October 4 ... Matthew 7 - 8 "Not a Game of Cat-and-Mouse"
"Satan continues to deceive people into believing that protecting our empty hearts and grasping after whatever fullness seems available is warranted (Heb 2:14)." 66 LL And here is Jesus Christ Who has come to destroy the work of the Evil One in our lives. May we know Matthew 7:5 in our hearts: "no holier-than-thou part of just living our part...no bargaining with God." Ask for what we need. "This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-see game we're in (Matt. 7:11)." Matthew 8 -"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. And the crowd burst into applause. Go and build our lives on Solid Rock.
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Good Monday Morning,
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone had a great weekend meeting, getting together, and spending time with the Lord together. I am just thrilled to be back for this portion of our journey together.
This morning the portion of scripture that spoke to me most was Matthew 7:24-25:
"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock."
Daily discipline in studying the Word of God will bring life and hope to our lives, and keep us focused on the Lord's will in our lives. Practicing obedience becomes the solid foundation to weather the storms of life.
My prayer today is that the Holy Spirit draw us closer to the Lord each day, and place a desire in our hearts to study the Word of God and be in His presence each and every day.
Have a blessed week!!
-Kim
So much wisdom:
ReplyDeleteMatthew 7.
“That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.” Always something I'm working on. Here's incentive to let it go!
“Don't look for shortcuts to God. . . The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.”
“What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills.”
“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on.” I'm too careless, not serious enough about the foundation I am building on. His Word is Life.
Matthew 8.
“The appropriate expressions of thanks to God: Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.”
“Just give the order and my servant will be fine.” Only say the word, Jesus, and I shall be healed.
“He fulfilled Isaiah's well-known sermon: He took our illnesses, He carried our diseases.” He fulfilled . . .every promise, every prayer, every whisper cried toward heaven. Thank you, Lord Jesus.
"First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life." Lord, help us to distinguish between what is life and what is death to us each day. Help us to pursue Life.
“Wind and sea come to heel at his command!" Do I really deeply believe that nothing is impossible for God?
“The evil spirits begged Jesus, "If you kick us out of these men, let us live in the pigs."—Be careful what you pray for… <smile>
Thanks, everyone, for a glorious weekend. I'm giving Him all the praise this morning! I wrote a little about it over at my blog. We missed those of you who weren't with us and prayed together for you by name. I treasure each of you.
What a precious time we had together at the Pearls Retreat. For all who could not attend, you were there in spirit and in our hearts. Today's scripture spoke to me about servanthood.
ReplyDeleteSimple Guide for Behavior
1 -5 "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
I pray for forgiveness for my words, thoughts and actions for speaking before careful consideration, for general deficit of grace. I ask for ability to see, and the willingness to serve.
The New Testament will be a new start, and my new testament to my commitment to following Christ.
Jesus reveals the adoption of the Gentiles into the faith family of Abraham:
ReplyDelete"This man (the Roman captain from Capernaum)is the vanguard of many outsiders who will soon be coming from all directions—streaming in from the east, pouring in from the west, sitting down at God's kingdom banquet alongside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
These words were very touching to me as I left my comfort zone and spent time with my friends at Rock Lake Ranch. I want each one of you to know how much I love you in the depths of my soul.
My eyes sought out each one of you...at the airport...from the windows of Rock Lake Ranch...
It was hard saying goodbye.
And we missed every one of you that couldn't be with us. We were Jewish mothers for the moment when Cici called and broke our hearts that she couldn't be there. We used the Jewish mothers' guilt and authority...even bribes...
We said, "Get over here!"
We said, "But we've come from so far away!"
We said, "We have chocolate!"
But we also said, "We understand, but we will miss you."
She came...
Truly, it was unlike anything I've ever been a part of. I am pondering and treasuring every detail of our God-graced and Spirit-laced appointment as a small body of Christ-loving women of faith.
Here in this day's reading is a glimpse of what we are. This Roman captain cried out to Jesus for a miracle, interceding for his servant, believing by faith in the Jewish Messiah. And I love the words Christ responded to him with.
These faith-followers are coming.
They will leave the all to join Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the table.
My trip to Houston and back home brought three women into my life as my traveling companions...
one from Trinidad with Hindu faith who burns a candle every day for Jesus, a good man among many (broke my heart but I planted seeds of faith)...
one a young Christian woman from Brazil in search for God's best in her life and the direction of God for her future with her boyfriend from Texas (I asked her would he swim through shark-infested waters for her)...
one beautiful woman of faith, a black woman who recently moved to my hometown and knows very few people in our hometown...she was a God-appointed relationship in my travel.
All three of these women needed a little of God's grace in their lives this weekend. I am amazed how much our God is in the details of our lives. And He cares about those who are deceived, desparate, or lonely. I would not have met these women if not for delays in my travel plans. God-appointed delays.
So, as much as I am thankful for each face I met at RLR, I am also thankful for those He brought my way through disruptions in my travel. I just worship Him all the more for how brilliant His Plan is in all of our lives.
Even for those who were not born into the Jewish faith...but have been adopted in by grace.
Grace...blood-bought...Spirit-sealed...called to a Party.
Love you all today with tears of remembrance of your voices, your hugs, your twinkling eyes and your grace-filled love poured out to overflow.