I am dedicating this page to my savior and redeemer. Here you will find inspiring quotes, stories and thoughts that have made me sit back and look at the bigger picture.
The Journey is what YOU make it!
May 24th
Luke 8:22-25
Jesus Calms the Storm
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. 23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”
The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”
Centuries later, Jesus’ divine invitation is extended to you and me. Are you living in chaos? Are you hopeless? Are you walking the line between life and death? Affirm your faith in His ability to help you by simply telling Him, “I trust You.”
May 18th
Read James 4:1-10
What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
4 You adulterers!* Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?* 6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud
but favors the humble.”*
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).
“Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise” (Proverbs 13:10).
“Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
Being filled with pride is easy. It comes naturally. Humility takes a supply of supernatural strength that comes only to those who are strong enough to admit weakness.”
It is when we humble ourselves “under the mighty power of God” that He will lift us up “in honor” (1 Peter 5:6).
May 17th
Read Matthew 27:45-55
The Gap, a towering, jagged cliff near Australia’s Sydney Harbor, has the notorious distinction of being the spot where many people have gone to commit suicide. A simple invitation from a kindly stranger (“Why don’t you come and have a cup of tea?”), however, has thwarted numerous attempts. For 50 years, Don Ritchie has lived across the street from The Gap, watching for people, and to talk them off the ledge. Ritchie doesn’t do anything special. He simply flashes his warm smile, engages them in conversation, and invites them to join him for tea at his home.
Sometimes, in our darkest places, we merely need the presence of a friend.
In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion, the apostle takes care to describe the deep darkness that spread across the sky, shrouding the cross in eerie gloom (Matthew 27:45). As Jesus suffered during His final grueling hours, the sun was obscured by the blackness. It was as if the horrific event was draining every bit of light from the world. But the darkness would get worse.
As Jesus gasped for air, He cried out words carrying more pain than all the beatings and all the nails and all the mockery combined. Jesus exclaimed, “My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?” (Matthew 27:46). The Apostles’ Creed says that after Jesus’ death, He descended into hell’s darkness. However, Jesus experienced the darkest place imaginable long before that. Jesus encountered utter aloneness, complete abandonment, when the Father left Him.
We’re all broken people trapped in dark places of fear, distrust, and loneliness. In order for Jesus to bring God to us, He had to embrace brokenness and endure darkness. Now, we’re never alone. Jesus is the friend who rescues us today and for all time.
May 14th
I came across this new song on 106.7 (The River) one of my favorite stations to listen to. I immediately knew this was a new song and it really had a strong meaning to me. Does it move you?
Sometimes I
I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone's alright
When I know they're not
This world needs God
But it's easier to stand and watch
I could say a prayer and just move on
Like nothing's wrong
But I refuse
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse
I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of You, oh God
So, if You say move
It's time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
Show them who You are
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse
To stand and watch the weary and lost
Cry out for help
I refuse to turn my back
And try and act like all is well
I refuse to stay unchanged
To wait another day, to die to myself
I refuse to make one more excuse
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse
Click on the link below to see Josh Wilson's story and the meaning behind this song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6md9teDFMU&feature=related
May 10th
Have you ever thought about how diverse and creative God is? He didn't have to make hundreds of different kinds of bananas, but He did. He didn't have to put 3,000 different species of trees within one square foot mile of the Amazon jungle, but He did. God didn't have to create so many kinds of laughter - wheezes, snorts, silent, loud, obnoxious.
How about the way plants defy gravity by drawing water upward from the ground into their stems and veins? Or did you know that spiders produce three different kinds of silk? When they build their webs, they create sixty feet of silk in one hour, simultaneously producing special oil on their feet that prevents them from sticking to their own web. Or what about the simple fact that plants take in carbon dioxide (which is harmful to us) and produce oxygen (which we need to survive)? I'm sure you knew that, but have you ever marveled at it?
We need some reminders about Gods goodness. We are programmed to focus on what we don't have, bombarded multiple times throughout the day with what we need to buy that will make us feel happier or sexier or more at peace. We forget that we already have everything we need in HIM. Because we don't often think about the reality of who God is, we quickly forget that He is worthy to be worshipped and loved.
JUSTIFIED STRESS?
"Rejoice in the Lord Always" I am sure you have heard this expression before, right? You will notice that it doesn't end with "...unless you're doing something extremely important." No, it's a command for all of us, and it follows with the charge, "Do not be anxious about anything"
When I am confused about my problems - stressed out about my life, my family, my job - I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have the "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities.
Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.
Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace towards others, or our tight grip of control.
THANK GOD WE ARE WEAK
Just to put into perspective the brevity of our lives:
Throughout time, somewhere between forty-five billion and one hundred twenty five billion people have lived on this earth. That's 125,000,000,000. In about fifty years (give or take a couple of decades) no one will remember you. Everyone you know will be dead. Certainly no one will care what job you had, what car you drove, what school you attended, or what clothes you wore. This can be a terrifying or reassuring or maybe a mix of both.
You could die tomorrow. Or a year from now. We have to believe it enough that it changes how we live.
Our lives here are short, often unexpectedly so, and we can all stand to be reminded of it from time to time. Don't let yourself forget. Soak it in and keep remembering that it is true. He is everything!
