Acts 16:25-26 (New King James Version)
"But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed."
Let's set the stage here for a sec: Paul and Silas have been telling people about Jesus all over the place. They're healing people, and setting people free from their addictions and demons. They are very busy doing God's business here on earth... And they're making plenty of enemies. So many enemies, in fact, that they find themselves with their feet in stocks, in the inner prison of the jail house (this will not be the only time) and they're so locked up that absolutely no one is escaping at this point. Close your eyes and picture this though: their feet are bound up in chains, they are sitting on the floor of a smelly, messy, dirty prison with rats running around at their feet, it's the middle of the night, and they love Jesus so much that they are singing songs of praise and worship to Him! They are having their own little praise and worship service in the middle of the night in the dead center of the jail with all the prisoners watching as they praise and sing to their King. If that's not enough to get the heart strings pulled and excited, there is much more to come... they're singing to their Jesus and suddenly there is an earthquake! The prison shakes, the doors fly open, and everyone is free to run like the wind.. no chains around their feet and hands anymore.
Things get shaken up when you praise Jesus in spite of it all. In the middle of the darkest hour of your night, when you feel trapped in your situation at work, or within your family, or you have hit rock bottom with your finances - PRAISE Him. Don't stop. Even if you can barely walk because the chains around your wrists and ankles are weighing you down... praise Him like there is no tomorrow.
There doesn't have to be anything fancy about praising Jesus. Just worship Him. Worship Him. Worship Him. Tell Him you love Him in any situation you find yourself in - chains and all. As you praise Him, your chains will fall off and you will be free.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
142
Matthew 6:34 (nkj)
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
It sounds a little depressing - today is bad enough, tomorrow will get worse and so on and so on. But I don't think that's what the writer here is saying. I think that the Holy Spirit wants us to relax in our hearts and minds when we think about our lives in the future. It's fair to say that the emotion of worry takes it's toll on every single human soul on the entire planet. Each one of us has at least one thing that fear and worry can use to unglue our minds and hearts. It doesn't matter how together and spiritual and in-tact you think you are; we all have that piece of fear that won't leave us alone regarding certain situations in our lives. Then the relief... don't think too much about tomorrow. You have to think about today.
Here's the thing: some things you're working at for your life may work out, some things won't. Some times you will get sick, sometimes you will lose some money, and worst of all, sometimes people will leave you and let you down. The key to not worrying about tomorrow is to not put your identity, expectations, security and peace in things that will come and go. If we have to rely on the flakey things of the earth to anchor our lives (money, power, status, looks, perfect health...etc.), then we would go insane. That's why God doesn't ask us to do that. It's much easier to not worry about tomorrow when you're eyes and purpose and the core of who you are is set like steel on the finish line: Jesus with His open arms welcoming you home. You will finish this race and you will be okay.
Don't worry about what will happen to your life tomorrow or in the future.. He is already there, He has your back, and everything will be okay. There is enough for your tired mind to focus on for today. Tomorrow may beat you up a little, and leave you a little broken and bruised, but you'll get through it. Don't worry...let go.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
It sounds a little depressing - today is bad enough, tomorrow will get worse and so on and so on. But I don't think that's what the writer here is saying. I think that the Holy Spirit wants us to relax in our hearts and minds when we think about our lives in the future. It's fair to say that the emotion of worry takes it's toll on every single human soul on the entire planet. Each one of us has at least one thing that fear and worry can use to unglue our minds and hearts. It doesn't matter how together and spiritual and in-tact you think you are; we all have that piece of fear that won't leave us alone regarding certain situations in our lives. Then the relief... don't think too much about tomorrow. You have to think about today.
Here's the thing: some things you're working at for your life may work out, some things won't. Some times you will get sick, sometimes you will lose some money, and worst of all, sometimes people will leave you and let you down. The key to not worrying about tomorrow is to not put your identity, expectations, security and peace in things that will come and go. If we have to rely on the flakey things of the earth to anchor our lives (money, power, status, looks, perfect health...etc.), then we would go insane. That's why God doesn't ask us to do that. It's much easier to not worry about tomorrow when you're eyes and purpose and the core of who you are is set like steel on the finish line: Jesus with His open arms welcoming you home. You will finish this race and you will be okay.
Don't worry about what will happen to your life tomorrow or in the future.. He is already there, He has your back, and everything will be okay. There is enough for your tired mind to focus on for today. Tomorrow may beat you up a little, and leave you a little broken and bruised, but you'll get through it. Don't worry...let go.
Monday, June 7, 2010
141
Acts 20:22-24 (nkj)
"And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
It puts a fresh perspective on life and stuff when I see how Paul viewed his time here on earth post meeting Jesus. He really just let go, didn't he? And you got to love it. He had let go of the ideas he had for his own life, and the things he'd grown up idealizing and thinking were important (as we all do). The only thing he held dear to his heart was the joy that came from telling the world about Jesus. He let the Holy Spirit lead him in the day to day, fully aware of the battles, disappointments, opposition and chains along the way. He took God seriously, but he didn't take His own life too seriously; Jesus, and telling people about Him was the dearest thing to his heart.
So let go of what you think your life should be about. Let go of needing to control everything, and ask the sweet Holy Spirit to take you where you need to go. You probably won't hear an audible voice, maybe just the still soft voice of your heart, and the Word itself, telling you where to go and what to do. Don't take you and your life so incredibly seriously. Look to Jesus everyday and ask that you would finish this life well... full of the joy and peace and happiness of Jesus and His undying grace over the world, your life and those around you.
"And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
It puts a fresh perspective on life and stuff when I see how Paul viewed his time here on earth post meeting Jesus. He really just let go, didn't he? And you got to love it. He had let go of the ideas he had for his own life, and the things he'd grown up idealizing and thinking were important (as we all do). The only thing he held dear to his heart was the joy that came from telling the world about Jesus. He let the Holy Spirit lead him in the day to day, fully aware of the battles, disappointments, opposition and chains along the way. He took God seriously, but he didn't take His own life too seriously; Jesus, and telling people about Him was the dearest thing to his heart.
So let go of what you think your life should be about. Let go of needing to control everything, and ask the sweet Holy Spirit to take you where you need to go. You probably won't hear an audible voice, maybe just the still soft voice of your heart, and the Word itself, telling you where to go and what to do. Don't take you and your life so incredibly seriously. Look to Jesus everyday and ask that you would finish this life well... full of the joy and peace and happiness of Jesus and His undying grace over the world, your life and those around you.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
140
Ecclesiastes 12:1
"Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say,
“I have no pleasure in them”..."
I don't think it's too much of a stretch for any of us to realize that over time, life can take it's toll on people, even the ones who are full of joy with a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Everyone in the entire world, unless they live under a rock, has witnessed or experienced their fair share of pain and suffering in the world and in humanity. And as time passes ever so quickly, we will keep observing the state of the world and realize that time and life and stuff is breaking down the earth, and all the human souls in it.
Find Jesus now. Wherever you are, however old you are, whatever you find yourself doing, don't waste another minute. Find and enjoy your Saviour now. I don't want to be a downer, but things may get tougher, you will get more disillusioned with people, things will get more expensive, and some dreams are very very hard to find. But your sweet saviour will be there to live with you - don't waste any time with stuff that doesn't matter. Don't wait until you're older and you've done a bunch of stuff you think you needed to do... do it all with Jesus. He is so much fun.
"Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say,
“I have no pleasure in them”..."
I don't think it's too much of a stretch for any of us to realize that over time, life can take it's toll on people, even the ones who are full of joy with a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Everyone in the entire world, unless they live under a rock, has witnessed or experienced their fair share of pain and suffering in the world and in humanity. And as time passes ever so quickly, we will keep observing the state of the world and realize that time and life and stuff is breaking down the earth, and all the human souls in it.
Find Jesus now. Wherever you are, however old you are, whatever you find yourself doing, don't waste another minute. Find and enjoy your Saviour now. I don't want to be a downer, but things may get tougher, you will get more disillusioned with people, things will get more expensive, and some dreams are very very hard to find. But your sweet saviour will be there to live with you - don't waste any time with stuff that doesn't matter. Don't wait until you're older and you've done a bunch of stuff you think you needed to do... do it all with Jesus. He is so much fun.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
139
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (new king james)
"Now Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content."
Be yourself. In all situations, just be yourself. Rich, poor, happy or sad, just be the person you truly are before God. The hardest thing about being a human in this rat-race-trying-to-get-ahead-keep-up-with-everyone-make-enough-to-live life we are trying to live, is that it's exhausting. We feel like if we have certain amounts of money, our image is at a certain pretty level, our careers are exciting and prosperous and it looks like we've got it all neatly put together, we may be a better person, have more friends, people will respect us... or that whatever the gap in our hearts is, it will be filled. I don't know if it's that black and white - we all have certain insecurities and pride issues we face everyday - but the beauty of this scripture is that it really takes the pressure off. We can really be who we are when we realize that we literally enter the world wearing nothing, and then we'll head home to heaven taking nothing. All we have to show are the lives we have introduced to Jesus along the way. It's very exciting to realize that we don't have to rely on flaky, unstable, unreliable and unfriendly money and stuff to make us happy and at peace.
Be Godly and content, and with these two gems inside you, you will become rich in all things. Be content becoming the best version of who you are as you walk with Him. And when you're having a bad day and you feel like you have to prove yourself with lots of money and stuff, then fall on your face in your bedroom before Jesus and let it all out. You can be who you really are with Him. He gets it.
"Now Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content."
Be yourself. In all situations, just be yourself. Rich, poor, happy or sad, just be the person you truly are before God. The hardest thing about being a human in this rat-race-trying-to-get-ahead-keep-up-with-everyone-make-enough-to-live life we are trying to live, is that it's exhausting. We feel like if we have certain amounts of money, our image is at a certain pretty level, our careers are exciting and prosperous and it looks like we've got it all neatly put together, we may be a better person, have more friends, people will respect us... or that whatever the gap in our hearts is, it will be filled. I don't know if it's that black and white - we all have certain insecurities and pride issues we face everyday - but the beauty of this scripture is that it really takes the pressure off. We can really be who we are when we realize that we literally enter the world wearing nothing, and then we'll head home to heaven taking nothing. All we have to show are the lives we have introduced to Jesus along the way. It's very exciting to realize that we don't have to rely on flaky, unstable, unreliable and unfriendly money and stuff to make us happy and at peace.
Be Godly and content, and with these two gems inside you, you will become rich in all things. Be content becoming the best version of who you are as you walk with Him. And when you're having a bad day and you feel like you have to prove yourself with lots of money and stuff, then fall on your face in your bedroom before Jesus and let it all out. You can be who you really are with Him. He gets it.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
138
Ecclesiastes 8:1
"Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed."
There is nothing like wisdom to help us figure out (somewhat) what life is about. Wisdom helps open our eyes to see what life seasons in all their drama and hilarity actually mean. Wisdom helps go beyond the surface to interpret what is actually going on in and around our lives. Even Solomon, according to this verse, can't find a person to compare with a truly wise soul - someone who has taken the time to search for the truth and ask God for His perspective and heart over people and situations and life. The most beautiful part of it all? Wisdom makes you look good! Your countenance is lifted, and the heaviness that comes from confusion, mystery and feeling lost and hopeless is taken away because of the sweetness of wisdom in your eyes and heart. Wisdom softens what the hardness of life can sometimes reflect on our faces.
Pursue her, Wisdom, and she will make your face shine like the sun and you will light up every room you walk into, bringing joy and peace and hope to all those you come across in your day.
Selah.
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"Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed."
There is nothing like wisdom to help us figure out (somewhat) what life is about. Wisdom helps open our eyes to see what life seasons in all their drama and hilarity actually mean. Wisdom helps go beyond the surface to interpret what is actually going on in and around our lives. Even Solomon, according to this verse, can't find a person to compare with a truly wise soul - someone who has taken the time to search for the truth and ask God for His perspective and heart over people and situations and life. The most beautiful part of it all? Wisdom makes you look good! Your countenance is lifted, and the heaviness that comes from confusion, mystery and feeling lost and hopeless is taken away because of the sweetness of wisdom in your eyes and heart. Wisdom softens what the hardness of life can sometimes reflect on our faces.
Pursue her, Wisdom, and she will make your face shine like the sun and you will light up every room you walk into, bringing joy and peace and hope to all those you come across in your day.
Selah.
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Tuesday, June 1, 2010
137
Matthew 12:34-35
(new king james) "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things."
(the message) "It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard."
Be careful what you say out of your mouth, always, because your words are a mirror of what's in your heart. It's actually a little bit scary- words can even determine how happy an individual can be, and how rich relationships and marriages can be. We must do everything within our will to say beautiful and edifying words.
(new king james) "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things."
(the message) "It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard."
Be careful what you say out of your mouth, always, because your words are a mirror of what's in your heart. It's actually a little bit scary- words can even determine how happy an individual can be, and how rich relationships and marriages can be. We must do everything within our will to say beautiful and edifying words.
I am currently trying to not be negative. I am having a negativity fast, if you will. I'm trying this for seven days. And you have no idea how many times I've had to bite my tongue over the last couple days since I started this little experiment - it made me very disappointed that I have let myself get quite "loose" with what I'm speaking out lately. It's more serious than I really ever thought it was, and when I try and pull in the reigns on what comes out of my mouth, I realize that if I'm not careful I can become very undisciplined with what I'm saying.
I'm not suggesting we live in denial and be happy-happy-joy-joy all the time. That's annoying. I feel perfectly fine acknowledging that a situation is bad, and I am feeling sad or someone hurt my heart. I am, however, saying to keep our hearts good, and the way we know the state of our hearts, is to listen to ourselves speak. Pay attention to the words coming out of your mouth, even just for one day. Keep your heart in line with Jesus' heart instructions, read good things that build your heart with goodness, mostly hang around people who are positive, and keep your heart in love with Jesus. Don't say negative things.
Good heart = good words. Evil heart = evil words. You choose.
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