Happy Friday! Don
How to Make Room for Your Muse
2 weeks ago
"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip." ~Will Rogers
“Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:37-39I have been pondering today what it is to truly be "alive." I heard a comment in this context, "Being alive is to be passionate and emotional. To feel is to be alive." Is simply pouring out your heart and acting on that response all there is to being alive? If there is more to being alive what is it? Jesus said He came to give us abundant life, does that mean a Christ-follower is to have more passion and emotion....more heart? Where does that leave soul and mind?
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.”- Romans 8:38-39Have you ever felt separated from God? The reality is that we are never truly separated from God's love. Yes, we try to pull ourselves away and separate from the presence of God and from His love. Most of the time we pull away because of our shame or pride....which are very closely related.
"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love oneWe have heard this message from the beginning, yet we still struggle with the basic fact that we are to love each other. We had great services yesterday and after each had ended, I was in the hall chatting and waiting for an Upward Basketball luncheon, when I witnessed a very loud and un-called for situation and exchange of words. It was defused with responsively kind words and the other person eventually apologized, but the entire event reminded me of this verse, "We need to love one another".
another.”- 1 John 3:11
A university student was told by his dentist that he would have to have his wisdom teeth removed.May we never forget that in this life we are at University for Heaven. "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Concerned about the expense, he consulted his roommate. "I'm not sure I can afford to have my wisdom teeth pulled," he complained.
"I know," his friend replied seriously. "I've seen your SATs."
Two men who lived in a small village got into a terrible dispute that they could not resolve. So they decided to talk to the town sage.Avoid conflict at all costs and they will make you a sage! Have an Awesome Friday - you know I love ya, - Don
The first man went to the sage's home and told his version of what happened. When he finished, the sage said, "You're absolutely right."
The next night, the second man called on the sage and told his side of the story. The sage responded, "You're absolutely right."
Afterward, the sage's wife scolded her husband. "Those men told you two different stories and you told them they were absolutely right. That's impossible -- they can't both be absolutely right." The sage turned to his wife and said, "You're absolutely right."
With all the snow in Indiana today (another 4 inches yesterday) instead of singing the foolish man builds his house on the sand, we could sing, "the foolish man builds his house on the snow." Snow is very unstable. Probably more unstable than sand to build a house on.“[For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to
the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all
his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:]I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”- Psalm 18:1-2
During the depression a beggar comes to a door of a home and asks for bread. The Woman of the house always tried to help as much as possible. So, she gave the man a Mason jar of water and two slices of bread. The man says thank you and goes to the front curb and sits down. He eats one slice and wraps the other in paper and puts it in his pockets.The point is we are beggars (Christ-followers) showing other beggars (the non-followers) where to find bread. So, I am praying for the ones in my life that do not know Jesus....I am asking God for help in this process...I am studying God's word to be prepared for the wave of seekers. May they see the mark of Jesus in my life. Thank you Mike Canny for sharing these powerful words with us.
He drinks the water and leans over and picks up a small stone and puts a check mark on the curb he is sitting on. The next month, almost everyday at least one beggar comes to the woman's door. The original beggar signified by the mark that this is a safe harbor and if she can, she will help you.