Romans 8: 39 - "neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Practice of the Presence of God - What does it mean to practice the presence of God? Where do you practice the presence?
To practice the presence of God, is the conscious awareness of God living in you. God is not just out there somewhere, instead get the realization of your oneness, to know that you exist in God - I am in God and God is in me. Presence - means present here and now.
To practice that presence, you must turn from the outer sense of separation to an inner realization of oneness, of wholeness. You are alive, and alert, guided and directed, free, whole and fulfilled in the presence.
Wherever you are, whatever you do, God is always with you. God doesn't will bad things to happen. Scripture says, "Behold I have loved thee with an everlasting love." God is a constant support of love and light and guidance forever within you that functions just as constantly as the force of gravity.
Take time in the early morning or the last thing before you go to sleep at night to just get still and feel the presence of God.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Spiritual Growth
1 Corinthians 3: 7 - "Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."
Farming is a continuous process. The farmer prepares the ground, plants the seed, harvest the seed, and prepares the ground for the next planting season.
Not matter how much preparation the farmer does there are many variables that affect the growth of the seeds: insects, hail damage, rainfall. No matter now much hard work the farmer does, he cannot make the plants sprout and grow. Only God can do that.
Spiritual growth is similar. Just as God cannot produce a crop for a farmer who does not plant and tend his field, God cannot grow fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives if we do not do our part.
You ask what is my part? Your part is consistent attention to spiritual practices: Bible study, prayer, worship, putting God first in your life, caring for those in need.
It takes time to grow spiritually so you can maximize your growth by paying attention every day to the details that are your responsibility. God has given you tools to use so you can grow in spiritual maturity.
Farming is a continuous process. The farmer prepares the ground, plants the seed, harvest the seed, and prepares the ground for the next planting season.
Not matter how much preparation the farmer does there are many variables that affect the growth of the seeds: insects, hail damage, rainfall. No matter now much hard work the farmer does, he cannot make the plants sprout and grow. Only God can do that.
Spiritual growth is similar. Just as God cannot produce a crop for a farmer who does not plant and tend his field, God cannot grow fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives if we do not do our part.
You ask what is my part? Your part is consistent attention to spiritual practices: Bible study, prayer, worship, putting God first in your life, caring for those in need.
It takes time to grow spiritually so you can maximize your growth by paying attention every day to the details that are your responsibility. God has given you tools to use so you can grow in spiritual maturity.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Ebenezer
1 Samuel 7:12 - Samuel took a stone and set it up. . . ."He named it Ebenezer saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us."
Ebenezer - a kind of memorial made of stones; it symbolizes God's help and guidance.
It is good to look back and think about all the times God has guided you along your journey. The people he placed in your lives, the experiences that you have encountered, the injustices that have surrounded you, the answered prayers. God is always there loving you and taking care of you. We too, can have an ebenezer.
Ebenezer - a kind of memorial made of stones; it symbolizes God's help and guidance.
It is good to look back and think about all the times God has guided you along your journey. The people he placed in your lives, the experiences that you have encountered, the injustices that have surrounded you, the answered prayers. God is always there loving you and taking care of you. We too, can have an ebenezer.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
GRACE
Galatians 6: 9-10 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
Each stressful encounter with another person gives us the chance to either focus on ourselves or to minister to another. Each difficult person we encounter: aggressive co-worker, annoying neighbor, the driver who cuts you off in traffic, gives us an opportunity to show grace.
When we stop outside our own concerns, we can help others in theirs.
Each stressful encounter with another person gives us the chance to either focus on ourselves or to minister to another. Each difficult person we encounter: aggressive co-worker, annoying neighbor, the driver who cuts you off in traffic, gives us an opportunity to show grace.
When we stop outside our own concerns, we can help others in theirs.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Freedom / Confidence
Mark 14: 36 - "Yet not what I will but what you will."
Faith needs to be more than just lip service. Faith that is genuine truly believes in God's promises.
We need to be careful and not fall into the trap of thinking because we are a people of faith that God is obliged to answer our prayers in our way and time.
Our faith, no matter how strong, will never merit favor with God. It won't cause everything to work out the way we want it to or think it should. Isaiah 55:8 . . . your ways are not my ways.
We are called to live faithful lives, but God is not at our beck and call. We need to remember God is a great God who keeps His promises and offers us a life of freedom confidence if simply believe him.
Ask God to nurture and minister to your heart. Give thanks to Him. Walk in grace and seek to live holy and perfect lives before God.
Faith needs to be more than just lip service. Faith that is genuine truly believes in God's promises.
We need to be careful and not fall into the trap of thinking because we are a people of faith that God is obliged to answer our prayers in our way and time.
Our faith, no matter how strong, will never merit favor with God. It won't cause everything to work out the way we want it to or think it should. Isaiah 55:8 . . . your ways are not my ways.
We are called to live faithful lives, but God is not at our beck and call. We need to remember God is a great God who keeps His promises and offers us a life of freedom confidence if simply believe him.
Ask God to nurture and minister to your heart. Give thanks to Him. Walk in grace and seek to live holy and perfect lives before God.
When the Time Comes!
Matthew 6: 14 - "God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
We all get caught up with worries of the future, the what ifs that can occur.
The point I am trying to make is meet today's problems with today's strength.
"Don't start dwelling on tomorrow's problems until tomorrow. You don't have tomorrow's strength yet. You simply have enough for today". - Max Lucado
We all get caught up with worries of the future, the what ifs that can occur.
The point I am trying to make is meet today's problems with today's strength.
"Don't start dwelling on tomorrow's problems until tomorrow. You don't have tomorrow's strength yet. You simply have enough for today". - Max Lucado
Monday, October 4, 2010
Simple Gifts
John 19:25-27 "Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."
Each day is a gift from God, an opportunity to do or give to someone else. No one is too old, too poor, too ill to offer acts of love and kindness.
Jesus nailed to the cross, about to die, thought of Mary, his mother and John his friend. Even in His last moments he found ways to give to others. We need to practice selfless giving in all that we do.
Jesus has told us that our new covenant with God, is to love others as he has loved us.
Each day is a gift from God, an opportunity to do or give to someone else. No one is too old, too poor, too ill to offer acts of love and kindness.
Jesus nailed to the cross, about to die, thought of Mary, his mother and John his friend. Even in His last moments he found ways to give to others. We need to practice selfless giving in all that we do.
Jesus has told us that our new covenant with God, is to love others as he has loved us.
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