December 2010
15 posts
2 tags
A Time for Everything: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time...
1 tag
Attitude of Gratitude
Continuing to be grateful for all of God’s blessings, and forcing myself to slow down, think hard, and see what I otherwise wouldn’t see. This morning, I am thankful for:
- that we have enough we’re able to share and help others out
- food shared between neighbors, celebrating the Christmas season
- a Saturday night poker game with the guys
- evenings when I sing songs and...
3 tags
The Wonder of Christmas
I read a book this week called “Touching Wonder” by John Blase. Very short, easy read. Basic format was: read a bit of the Christmas story (mainly from Luke), then read an inner monologue from a character in the story, then read a short prayer he had written pertaining to those ideas. His point being that for so many people, the Christmas story has simply become a yearly...
2 tags
“What is vital about the church isn’t found in any programs or services. It’s...”
– Jim Kallam, Jr. - Risking Church
1 tag
Tuesday Thanks
As I continue to walk slowly through life, stopping to bend low and smell the roses, here are more things I am thankful for that God has blessed me with:
- new friends found at the end of a road
- hearing stories of marriages being fought for and won back from the Enemy
- that we live on this side of the mountains (the shielded side)
- the opportunity to pick up my guitar again and share music...
3 tags
What Are We Fighting For?
A year and a half ago, a guy, who at the time was basically a casual friend, and I got thrown together through certain circumstances and have become brothers for life. It all started with a phone call for help, and that same day we had a long discussion into the evening. We were honest, and transparent about the mess our lives were and we both knew then that we needed help. We swore to take it one...
Homemade Christmas Gifts
This isn’t the first year that we’ve made gifts for people at Christmas time, but this is the first year that we’re doing it pretty much exclusively. We did buy one or two things throughout the year that we knew someone would love to have, but most of our gifts are things we’ve made. This is a great thing to do for several reasons. First, it enables us to get our young son...
Tuesday Gratitude
I am really enjoying giving thanks weekly for all the things I have been blessed with. Although it is increasingly difficult to continue diving deeper, it has been a delight to see more and more of what has always been there, but that I never noticed before. Here are some things I am thankful for this morning:
- Running into someone yesterday who hugged me and said “We miss you.”
-...
“When we let go of our personal dreams and expectations, we can experience the...”
– Paul David Tripp in “War of Words”
“God is not a belief to which you give your assent. God becomes a reality whom...”
– Ernest Boyer, Jr.
Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks: 1 Thessalonians...
Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
This statement is found in the closing remarks of Paul’s letter to the Christians of Thessolonica. The phrase is a short and sweet set of exhortations - short so that it’s easy to remember, but given because of its profound ability to direct the motions of...
