Isaiah 41:17-20.......(The Message)
"The poor and homeless are desperate for water,
their tongues parched and no water to be found.
But I'm there to be found, I'm there for them,
and I, God of Israel, will not leave them thirsty.
I'll open up rivers for them on the barren hills,
spout fountains in the valleys.
I'll turn the baked-clay badlands into a cool pond,
the waterless waste into splashing creeks.
I'll plant the red cedar in that treeless wasteland,
also acacia, myrtle, and olive.
I'll place the cypress in the desert,
with plenty of oaks and pines.
Everyone will see this. No one can miss it—
unavoidable, indisputable evidence
That I, God, personally did this.
It's created and signed by The Holy of Israel."
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Life is too short!
"As for me, I am tired of talking about what we are going to do. I am sick of talking about helping people, of brainstorming and conferencing about ways we can be radical and make sacrifices. I don't want to merely talk anymore. Life is too short. I don't want to speak about Jesus; I want to know Jesus. I want to be Jesus to people. I don't want to just to write about the Holy Spirit; I want to experience His presence in my life in a profound way."
- Francis Chan, Forgotten God
- Francis Chan, Forgotten God
Monday, February 8, 2010
Urgent Message from Jesus
John 5:24-27 (The Message)
24"It's urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.
25-27"It's urgent that you get this right: The time has arrived—I mean right now!—when dead men and women will hear the voice of the Son of God and, hearing, will come alive. Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.
Wow, this verse just grabbed me this morning. I love The Message translation of this one, and how twice, it emphasizes the word URGENT. This message from Jesus truly is urgent and I think so often times we forget that. If Jesus said it, then I'm taking it as truth. He thought it was important enough to emphasize the fact that it is time, now, to accept Him and believe in Him. I don't just think He is saying that we will have lasting life in eternity, with Him, at the moment we accept Him. I think He is saying that we will have real and lasting life now.......once in Him, we enter into our REAL life, the one He intended for us all along. The one full of passion for Him because of His amazing love for us; which fuels compassion for others in need......which gives us the courage we need to step out there and really serve them, really! Something that others would label as radical! To stretch ourselves to do what we think we cannot! The Holy Spirit does the serving and the loving through us! How awesome is that?!? He knows we cannot keep His commands on our own strength so, if we allow Him to, He enters into us and does it for us!
Incredible that just by believing Him, He not only equips us but motivates us to do His will, now, while we are on earth, as it is, and will be in Heaven! Doing His will here, is a picture, a preview of what Heaven will be like. Perhaps that is why we feel so "pumped" when we are doing something for God!
What an amazing life! There is nothing on this earth that should not be worth giving up in order to step into this life with Him. We can trust Him, He knows us better than we know ourselves! He is worth it!
The grass truly is greener on the other side with Jesus!!
These verses in John are an invitation for us to enter into this life with Christ and he is saying that all we have to do is BELIEVE!!
24"It's urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.
25-27"It's urgent that you get this right: The time has arrived—I mean right now!—when dead men and women will hear the voice of the Son of God and, hearing, will come alive. Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.
Wow, this verse just grabbed me this morning. I love The Message translation of this one, and how twice, it emphasizes the word URGENT. This message from Jesus truly is urgent and I think so often times we forget that. If Jesus said it, then I'm taking it as truth. He thought it was important enough to emphasize the fact that it is time, now, to accept Him and believe in Him. I don't just think He is saying that we will have lasting life in eternity, with Him, at the moment we accept Him. I think He is saying that we will have real and lasting life now.......once in Him, we enter into our REAL life, the one He intended for us all along. The one full of passion for Him because of His amazing love for us; which fuels compassion for others in need......which gives us the courage we need to step out there and really serve them, really! Something that others would label as radical! To stretch ourselves to do what we think we cannot! The Holy Spirit does the serving and the loving through us! How awesome is that?!? He knows we cannot keep His commands on our own strength so, if we allow Him to, He enters into us and does it for us!
Incredible that just by believing Him, He not only equips us but motivates us to do His will, now, while we are on earth, as it is, and will be in Heaven! Doing His will here, is a picture, a preview of what Heaven will be like. Perhaps that is why we feel so "pumped" when we are doing something for God!
What an amazing life! There is nothing on this earth that should not be worth giving up in order to step into this life with Him. We can trust Him, He knows us better than we know ourselves! He is worth it!
The grass truly is greener on the other side with Jesus!!
These verses in John are an invitation for us to enter into this life with Christ and he is saying that all we have to do is BELIEVE!!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Just Stop And Think
Just Stop And Think.....
"Day in and day out, we find ourselves in the monotony of life; self help books, work, family, friends, cars, house, medications. Most of us are simply trying to life a "normal life." Have you ever found yourself wondering whether or not the goal of life should be normalcy? Now is the time to Stop and Think."
http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_stop.html
- Francis Chan, Crazy Love
"Day in and day out, we find ourselves in the monotony of life; self help books, work, family, friends, cars, house, medications. Most of us are simply trying to life a "normal life." Have you ever found yourself wondering whether or not the goal of life should be normalcy? Now is the time to Stop and Think."
http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_stop.html
- Francis Chan, Crazy Love
Monday, February 1, 2010
"The Awe Factor of God"
This video shows us how incredibly huge God and His creation really is! In case we ever think that this life is "all about us", this video reminds us that it is truly, all about Him, the wonderful Creator we worship!
http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_awe.html
http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_awe.html
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