Friday, January 14, 2011
Recently in my devotional time with God I read in Matthew that we are to be a light unto the world. In other wards we are to let our light that God has put in us to shine so others will be attracted to it. Some of my thoughts are included below but the inspiration was taken from a devotional I am following online. I modified it some but the theme is the same. Enjoy.
Jesus says in Matthew, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:14–16). In this passage, Jesus gives believers a wonderful challenge. He exhorts us not to hide (which we may be inclined to do in this dark world) but to live as light. We are to shine, to illuminate … to glow. And how do we glow? By our good deeds. Jesus tells us that what we do and the way we live is a bridge to helping others praise, glorify and worship our heavenly Father. Our actions and lifestyle are significant catalysts in moving others towards salvation.
I have heard that in Bioluminescent Bay, Puerto Rico people travel from all over the world to see the mystical waters that shine like stars in the sea. Usually a tour guide will guide you on a kayak journey through a canal into the middle of the bay where as night begins to fall your paddle propelling you through the water will cause it to exude a beautiful blue-green light. In that moment you begin to realize how awesome our God is.
Once in the middle of the bay, the tour guide gathers the group together and begins to explain the bioluminescence. His story tells of thousands of dinoflagellates (microscopic plankton) per gallon of water in the bay that, when touched, emit a flash of blue light that creates this wonderful radiance. In essence, a touch triggers the glow.
I wonder if that isn’t God’s intention for us as well. Could it be that part of the reason why God has so graciously touched our life is so that we would glow? Is it possible you and I were saved, healed and set free so that people from all over the world living in darkness would see His light in our lives and be drawn to Him?
Peter and Paul thought so. Peter suggested that a believing wife could win an unbelieving husband to the Lord through her actions (1 Peter 3:1–2), and Paul told Titus to teach slaves (who functioned in that culture much like our modern-day employees do) the importance of being a shining light so they would make the gospel attractive (Titus 2:9–10). May we then, as a response to His saving touch, glow for the glory of God at home, at work, at school and wherever else our travels take us. Now go and be a "Glowbug"
Books Currently Reading: The Fire Within, by Thomas Dubai
Current Bible Readings / Studies: Genesis 1 -11
Devotions: Reading through the Book of Ezra and Matthew
Friday, January 14, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Tidbits from the life of a Pastoral Care Pastor
Wednesday January 5, 2011
It’s hard to believe that 2010 has ended and 2011 has started. Happy New Year to everyone! I trust and pray that 2011 will be even better than 2010 and that you prosper in all the things that God has for you to do, just be sure to listen for His voice. This year our small group will begin the year by studying the first 11 chapters of Genesis. In the very first verse in the book of Genesis, we are told that the world began as an undistinguishable wasteland of voided emptiness. There was chaos and so much happening, yet nothing. There was so much movement, yet no benefit, no profit, no purpose. Have you ever had a day like that? So much going on, yet nothing coming from it? Maybe you’re going through the motions and still feeling dead. That wasteful and lacking feeling is something God does not like. God was not content with "nothing" he was only satisfied and though of something as "good" when it was producing, and this principle echoes all throughout the New Testament. Do you ever have those days in which you keep yourself busy just to escape from everything? Nothing was thrown together here; the scriptures use the word, “divided” for God separating the light and dark, etc. The word divided comes from the Hebrew word, badal which means to distinguish with a purposeful intent. When God began to shape and create the world, he started to assign, separate and distinguish this chaotic expanse that existed. In this we see the first glimpse of the personality and attributes of God. I heard somewhere this quote:
“The simplicity of your destiny is that the starting line begins wherever you decide, and the finish line ends wherever you can make it to.” The boundaries and confides of life are stretched between our wants and cans. God finished his creating acts by handing us the baton, telling us to create and shape our lives and our world. This is a charge echoed by Jesus to us in some of his final days on the earth.
So let us create! Let us dream! Using the principles found in the Creation week will lead to an amazing impact on our community but also in our own life. Let's strive together, to be tactful and create, assign and lead the way God did and don't forget to pass it on to someone else. I am looking forward to studying with my group the beginning of things as we start a new year together.
Books Currently Reading: The Fire Within, by Thomas Dubay
Current Bible Readings / Studies: Genesis 1 -11
Devotions: Reading through the Book of Ezra
It’s hard to believe that 2010 has ended and 2011 has started. Happy New Year to everyone! I trust and pray that 2011 will be even better than 2010 and that you prosper in all the things that God has for you to do, just be sure to listen for His voice. This year our small group will begin the year by studying the first 11 chapters of Genesis. In the very first verse in the book of Genesis, we are told that the world began as an undistinguishable wasteland of voided emptiness. There was chaos and so much happening, yet nothing. There was so much movement, yet no benefit, no profit, no purpose. Have you ever had a day like that? So much going on, yet nothing coming from it? Maybe you’re going through the motions and still feeling dead. That wasteful and lacking feeling is something God does not like. God was not content with "nothing" he was only satisfied and though of something as "good" when it was producing, and this principle echoes all throughout the New Testament. Do you ever have those days in which you keep yourself busy just to escape from everything? Nothing was thrown together here; the scriptures use the word, “divided” for God separating the light and dark, etc. The word divided comes from the Hebrew word, badal which means to distinguish with a purposeful intent. When God began to shape and create the world, he started to assign, separate and distinguish this chaotic expanse that existed. In this we see the first glimpse of the personality and attributes of God. I heard somewhere this quote:
“The simplicity of your destiny is that the starting line begins wherever you decide, and the finish line ends wherever you can make it to.” The boundaries and confides of life are stretched between our wants and cans. God finished his creating acts by handing us the baton, telling us to create and shape our lives and our world. This is a charge echoed by Jesus to us in some of his final days on the earth.
So let us create! Let us dream! Using the principles found in the Creation week will lead to an amazing impact on our community but also in our own life. Let's strive together, to be tactful and create, assign and lead the way God did and don't forget to pass it on to someone else. I am looking forward to studying with my group the beginning of things as we start a new year together.
Books Currently Reading: The Fire Within, by Thomas Dubay
Current Bible Readings / Studies: Genesis 1 -11
Devotions: Reading through the Book of Ezra
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