OCTOBER 7, 2016

“What could we accomplish if we knew we could not fail?” 
― Eleanor Roosevelt

ISAIAH 37-38

20The Lord will save me,

and we will sing with stringed instruments

all the days of our lives

in the temple of the Lord. (38:20)

PHILIPPIANS 3

 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things

JOURNAL 

Where do I put my confidence? Where does my security truly lie? It is easy to get caught up in all the "what if's". There is always something to worry about unless my confidence and hope is in Christ.  Doesn't mean those things go away...it just means that they no longer control my hopes and dreams...if my hopes and dreams are in obedience to Christ.

If this is my hope then when I obey God...I cannot fail. No matter what happens I live knowing I have succeeded. What news...what amazing news. Now though comes the tough part which is giving up all the counterfeit Gods and all the hopes and dreams that are dependent upon them.

1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 JOHN 4:1

OCTOBER 6, 2016

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” 
― Jalaluddin Rumi

ISAIAH 34-36

8And a highway will be there;

it will be called the Way of Holiness;

it will be for those who walk on that Way.

The unclean will not journey on it;

wicked fools will not go about on it.

9No lion will be there,

nor any ravenous beast;

they will not be found there.

But only the redeemed will walk there,

10and those the Lord has rescued will return.

They will enter Zion with singing;

everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (35:8-10)

PHILIPPIANS 2

5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6Who, being in very nature^a God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature^b of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

JOURNAL 

I really wish I could capture the mindset of this verse from Paul. The mindset of Christ. I get glimpses of it but then the chaos of the world floods my mind with fears and shame etc. It is interesting to me that paul frames it as a mindset. The mindset is that of a servant. Humility and service is our call...this is the path we are called to walk as Isaiah refers to...

Funny thing though is that when I do grasp this at times...I have such peace and joy. The mindset of humility and service really does bring the power of God over all the chaos and evil of the world. This idea of mindset is in harmony with mindfulness training. Being present, clear and aware of the here and now.

16Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

OCTOBER 5, 2016

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” 
― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

ISAIAH 31-33

 13The Lord says:

“These people come near to me with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship of me

is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (29:13)

PHILIPPIANS 1

3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

JOURNAL 

To live is to do. Love is active...the commands of God are to do, not to wait to be done to. God has given me life and with that life I am commanded to do good works and to work for God. I no longer need to fret and wonder about my worth or my value. God has redeemed me and given me the gift of life every day. To waste it worrying about tomorrow or fretting over the past is to destroy the present moment. The present moment is where God resides...it is in this moment that my relationship with God exists. Not in the hope of tomorrow or in the thoughts of yesterday but simply in today, right now.

 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

GALATIANS 6:9

OCTOBER 4, 2016

“There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.” 
― John Calvin

ISAIAH 29-30

 13The Lord says:

“These people come near to me with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship of me

is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (29:13)

EPHESIANS 6

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

JOURNAL 

Last night I was really overcome by the new show Timeless. It has always been fascinating to me to think about time travel. I have always loved history and to really be immersed in the midst of actual history while it is happening would just be beyond words...I don't really know why it is so fascinating to me, I guess it is for most people.

What hit me though was the thought that every action has an effect. I believe God is sovereign but I also know that we have a part in the story. I know that our actions have consequences and results. God allows it but we still play a part. Therefore the details really matter. What I do everyday really does matter.

 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

EPHESIANS 2:4-5

What did I learn?

1) Manual labor is really good for my soul.

2) Making things out of discarded wood reminds me of God's redemption.

3) Watching the new series Timeless...reminded me that everything matters...who knows how even the smallest conversation or action could change a life.