Hard Week!
I had a hard week. Maybe some of you guys did too.
Have you heard the expression, "Rode hard and put away wet!" Well, it refers to when horses were ridden to exhaustion and then putting the horse in the barn without a cool down and brush down time. It is very bad for the horses' health.
So there ya go.
I hope your week is better and you grow closer to God everyday.
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The Daniel Fast
I was looking up some information on the Daniel Fast and came across this site.
I signed up and got an email with a list of foods that are "allowed" and "disallowed." It really helped me.
Many times I have seen people talking about fasting in order to receive some financial boon or for some super special end. I think we all know that God is not a "magic wand" God. So, instead, why don't we focus on fasting as a way to grow closer to God and His will. Let it be ANOTHER discipline that helps you remove things from your life that remove you from God.
For me, fasting is about Sovereignty. God is to be first in my life. Not my needs, not even my physical ones. I was reminded just tonight about Elijah that had to run for his life from a King that wanted him dead. God told him to go to a special place that would keep him safe. Elijah asked what he would eat. And God said, I will provide you with food.
God, you are my King. It is by your hand that I am able to do anything. Let me be reminded.
December Godtime is Up!
Just thought I would post a quick note to let you know that if you go to "Downloads," you will find the weekly family devotionals for December ready for your family enjoyment and edification!
Enjoy! Edify!
Sweet!
Run Home to Momma
Did you know that across a lot of different peoples in the world that a toddler will still push the boundaries from where that toddler feels safe?
That means that a child may start out taking five steps away from momma before glancing back to make sure she is still there, but, eventually, that child will go to ten steps and then to twenty. When it comes time to run home to momma, because of something bad happening or a feeling that the child needs to feel/be closer to momma, the child knows exactly where momma is. The child is safe.
In Psalm 25:12, it asks, "Who are they that fear the Lord?" The fear in this sentence is not one where we think of God as a great big bully. God isn't a bully. He loves us. There is no love in being a bully. The fear that is meant here is more like a respect but you have to add in a cup of admiration and adoration. Big words. It means that not only should we respect God but we should respect Him in such a way that we look up to Him and love him.
Sometimes we are loving and respecting God and we are so close to Him. And we go through our days and life-stuff happens. We get bullied at school. People treat us mean. Lots of stuff. Those that truly "fear" God will always think of God immediately when these things happen. God will be in their thoughts constantly, whether there are bad things happening or good things happening. God will be right there in the front of their head, just like the child's momma is always in the child's thoughts even when momma is twenty steps away.
Down to the Devil
So many times we blame things on Satan. Instead it is simply that we have not trained ourselves to listen to God instead of what we want. Satan's job is made easier by our unwillingness to do what God asks of us. We simply want what we want. And, that is okay if what we want is what God wants. The problem is that we are not listening to God and seeking what He wants for us because we care more about what we want.
My reflections from Oswald for today
A Good Morning
This morning I was reading from Oswald Chambers. Pretty cool stuff!
It was from Ephesians 1:18. It said "so that we may know the hope that He (God) has called us." Oswald sums it up by saying that "you must work out what God has worked in."
When God saves us, we don't just become like a museum. Getting lots of webs and dust on us. We have to do stuff for God. You know how you hear people say you can tell if they are a Christian by their fruit? Well, that is kind of what this is saying too. God is going to challenge us. Not because he is some big mean God, but because the more we use our faith the more faith we will have. We have to trust God and have hope in Him. We must be ready to face anything! Are you ready to face anything today?