Abide

Love - not an emotion, not a feeling, not a passing symptom caused by hormonal surge. True love is only demonstrated through Gods love for us. My prayer today is that God will grant me the faith to truly live out John 15-9-17.................... Only then can I experience real love, and only through that love can I love others.

John 15:9-17

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

looking up

I snapped this photo on my phone while walking along the water front in Seattle over the weekend. I often find myself gazing up at the clouds. Not always the safest thing to do while walking, but I find I am drawn to it like a painting that draws your gaze and causes you to ponder the inspiration of the artist. God's creations are all around us and I never cease to be amazed by just how much he cares about even the smallest things in life. I am truly grateful for the creative ways he chooses to reach out to each of us. My prayer today is that I will never stop seeking his presence as I walk  through this life.

Acts 1:10-12 (NIV)
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Sowing of Seeds

Today I was traveling over the pass at 4:30 AM on the way to the airport and found myself very thankful for four wheel drive and studded tires. Chains were required for non four wheel drive vehicles and I had planed enough time to make my 8AM flight to NY. Inside my tuck I felt safe, in control and insulated from the storm that raged around me. My life is not always so planned out. At times I feel more like I am driving a three cylinder with bald tires a cracked windshield and bad wipers. That is no way to head into the storms life throws at us. This made me think of Matthew 13:3-23. My pray today is that I would be intentional about where I sow, for without proper planning and preparation a-lot of hard work will result in nothing but blisters.

Matthew 13:3-9  and 13:18-23
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
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¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

seeds of faith

I have been reading the book "The Purple Pig and Other Miracles" . I am only 50 pages in, but thus far it has truly been challenging my commitment to prayer. The book outlines just how powerful prayer is, not just in times of need, but as a premise for all that we do in the name of Christ. The Word of God is powerful! Prayer is the language of God, it is our lifeline for communication with him. It is my prayer that I would take this fact seriously and practice what we are called to do; In all things and in all conditions may I praise the Lord,

Psalm 126:5-6
5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

The Promise

Psalm 55:22
22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Eyes of my heart

A view via the eyes of my heart

Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

It is my pray that God would help me to see more with the eyes of my heart.

Promise

I love this promise

Ephesians 3:12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Freedom, power, movement

When I read the below verse I think of freedom, power, and movement. Imagine claiming this verse and walking it out. Imagine being anointed by the Lord to proclaim the good news, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom. There is real power in Gods word and it gives me shivers. What is holding me back? What is keeping me from claiming this verse? My prayer today is that God would reveal the things that are distracting me from his work...

Isaiah 61:1-4
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

When Worlds Collide

Amazing things happen when two worlds collide. Hearts are changed, eyes are opened, and lives are never the same. My wife just got back from a trip to Haiti where she spent time in an orphanage. The photos and story's are amazing and her life will never be the same. I find her enthusiasm contagious and notice my life changing because of her and others willingness to go. It is my prayer that I would spend more time on God's plan and less on my own...

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.