God: "Would you say that a person who watches 20 minutes of television a week worships the TV?"

Us: "Probably not."

Father: "Then why would you say that someone who worships ME 20 minutes a week is a worshiper of God?"

Plastic Jesus

Acts 5:41

"So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name."

Matthew 5:11-12

"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Matt Chandler - Irreverent, Silly Myths

Matt Chandler - Jesus Wants the Rose

Ephesians from Cornerstone Church on Vimeo.

Complaining

Just because I don't have complaining lips does not mean I don't have a complaining heart!!

Jesus, I ask that your fruit may be actualized in my heart first, and then to my lips. I ask that I will rejoice with gladness and have an overflow of thankfulness in my heart for You, for Your Love, for what You have given me and for what you have DONE for me. You took your life as a sacrifice so I may live to experience Your Goodness that I don't even deserve!

Phil 2:14-18
"Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the world of life, that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me."

Paul wrote this letter in Jail. He rejoiced! 

Throw Away Your Resume

by Dave Dorr | Saturday September 25th, 2010

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

Forgetting What Lies Behind

Whenever I read Philippians 3:13-14 I think “forgetting what lies behind” means the bad things I have done or my personal shortcomings that have resulted in undesirable outcomes. But that is not what Paul is talking about when he mentions “forgetting.”

What he is forgetting is his past righteousness. He is moving past anything that might give him a standing with God apart from Jesus Christ: like being a Pharisee of Pharisees, or having incredible zeal for God. Earlier in this chapter he has called all of his former righteousness dung, and now he says he is forgetting it.

Look Away From Yourself

This couldn’t be more refreshing. I tend to get historical with God when I don’t get my way: “God, I have served you wholeheartedly,” or “I have sacrificed a lot to serve you.” And any time I say these thoughts in my heart, what I am looking for is past obedience to secure a future good. I am counting on my righteousness to secure blessing from God.

That is exactly why I need to forget it. My eyes have swerved from Christ right back to myself. And I cannot press towards any goal with my eyes on myself. But when I look at Christ, I see the righteous One who went to the cross because of my disobedience—to pour out spiritual blessings in spite of me, not because of me.

When I see that grace, I can finally live free of the resume.

Quotes

"Repentance is confession with an action plan. Regret is not repentance." - Stuart Greaves

"The most indispensable resource we have to study the scriptures is the Holy Spirit, yet He is vastly underutilized." - David Sliker

"Has God so worked in your heart that the sin you once loved you now hate?" Paul Washer

"The real nature of truth is that it liberates." Stuart Greaves

"The cry for the fear of God (proven by conduct) is a cry to be shaken into reality." 1 Peter 1:17

He's For Real

"God is far more interested in your holiness than in your temporary happiness." James McDonald

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

Romans 8:5-8

God, you're so Good!

I had the best revelation yesterday that brought my stress level to 0.

Hard-work does not equate to worry. I've been getting constant headaches trying to work hard at work/school and it's been putting a lot of stress on myself. I remember when I was at school, I was getting this nasty nasty headache. I didn't know what to do but to bust His Word out. Instant peace. All the compressions on my brain were all gone.

I slept for 3 hours last night. I woke up this morning and spent time with Jesus and He touched me with Joy. =)

Jeremiah 15:16

When your words came, I ate them;
they were my joy and my heart's delight,
for I bear your name,
O LORD God Almighty.


Jesus, give me a heart to keep abiding in You for my sinful heart and mind forgets how good You are until I'm desperate. Give me grace to remember Your eternal JOY, everyday, with great thanksgiving and humility. Let me not rely on my wretched self and open my eyes to see how poor I am without You. Burn pride from my bones that is so rooted in me and set me on a solid Rock. Let my life be about ONE THING -- "that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."

Prayer Song Over my Life When I Forget.

Jesus, my passion in life is to know You

May all other goals bow down to
This journey of loving You more
Jesus, You’ve showered Your goodness on me
Given Your gifts so freely
But there’s one thing I’m longing for
Hear my heart’s cry
And my prayer for this life

Above all else
Above all else
Above all else
Give me Yourself

Savior, the more that I see Your beauty
The more that I glimpse Your glory
My heart is captured by You
Jesus, You are my greatest treasure
Nothing this world can offer
Could ever compare to You
So, hear my heart’s cry
And my prayer for this life

Love this Song.

Who am I to know Your glory?
Who am I to recognize your voice calling out?
How could I be in Your story?
God who was and is and is to come who is One?


I was dead in my sin
You came in
yeah


You made a way when there was no way
You covered heaviness with garments of praise
You wrote a song and You're singing it over me
I feel a dead heart beating now
This revelation makes me wanta shout (HEY!)
that Jesus has been sent
and everything is different.


You turn ashes into beauty
You are for me, not against me now
You found me somehow
You turn mourning into dancing
You turn weeping into a joyful noise
Oh rejoice!


I was dead in my sin
You came in
yeah


You made a way when there was no way
You covered heaviness with garments of praise


You wrote a song and You're singing it over me
I feel a dead heart beating now
This revelation makes me wanta shout (HEY!)
that Jesus has been sent
and everything is different.


What matter of love that You would call us sons and daughters?
We cry "Abba! Father!"
Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia
I will never be the same.


You made a way when there was no way
You covered heaviness with garments of praise
You wrote a song and You're singing it over me
I feel a dead heart beating now
This revelation makes me wanta shout (HEY!)
that Jesus has been sent
and everything is different.


You made a way when there was no way
You covered heaviness with garments of praise
You wrote a song and You're singing it over me (thank You, Jesus)
I feel a dead heart beating now
This revelation makes me wanta shout (HEY!)
that Jesus has been sent
and everything is different.

I Love Wisdom. Thank You, Jesus.

I love each line, but the ones in bold are the ones that I'm experiencing and seeing more truth in this season of my life.

Proverbs 13

1 wise son hears his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
5 The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.
6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
7 One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
but a poor man hears no threat.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 By insolence (Rude and disrespectful behavior) comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
15 Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
16 In everything the prudent (Acting with or showing care and thought for the future) acts with knowledge,
but a fool flaunts his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Disaster pursues sinners,
but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.
24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Jesus

I only call on Jesus
He carries me through my worst storms
I only count on Jesus
I'm leanin' on His everlasting arms

I have a testimony 'bout Jesus
He carries me through my worst storms
I only count on Jesus
I'm leanin' on His everlasting arms

Let me tell you that I'm leanin' and I'm trustin' Him
I'll sit and I'll wait
The Lord, He's right there for me
Never too late

Oh, when it feels
Like I'm level, level to the ground
He lifts right up, all my blessing come down
That's why call on Him

I only call on Jesus
He carries me through my worst storms
I only count on Jesus
I'm leanin' on His everlasting arms

I have a testimony 'bout Jesus
He carries me through my worst storms
I only count on Jesus
I'm leanin' on His everlasting arms

Yes, He's a way-maker
When I'm sick I can fall on my knees and I'll pray
The Lord turns my midnights to all brighter days
Oh, it's a blessed assurance

In You when I call
My wonderful counselor
My all in all

I only call on Jesus
He carries me through my worst storms
I only count on Jesus
I'm leanin' on His everlasting arms

I have a testimony 'bout Jesus
He carries me through my worst storms
I only count on Jesus
I'm leanin' on His everlasting arms

Oh, alright
Oh, alright
Oh, alright
Oh, alright

I only call on Jesus
He carries me through my worst storms
I only count on Jesus
I'm leanin' on His everlasting arms

I have a testimony 'bout Jesus
He carries me through my worst storms
I only count on Jesus
I'm leanin' on His everlasting arms

I only call on Jesus
He carries me through my worst storms
I only count on Jesus
I'm leanin' on His everlasting arms

I have a testimony 'bout Jesus
He carries me through my worst storms
I only count on Jesus
I'm leanin' on His everlasting arms

"God doesn't want something from us. He simply wants us." - C.S. Lewis

THANKAAS;DLKFJAS;LDKFJA;SLDKJFAS;DKLJF

THANK YOU, JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(IN RESPONSE TO MY HELP ENTRY BELOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE IT.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JESUS HELP!

When I don't pray for myself...

My soul is painfully dull to the Holy Spirit.
My soul naturally does not want to read the Word or speak to the Holy Spirit.

Help me, Lord!

Psalm 143:10

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

from The Resurgence by Dave Kraft

The Tired Leader

Through the years I have come to some general conclusions about people, ministry, and leaders. One of them is that most people, in general, and leaders, in particular, try to do too much and work too many hours. An article in the Seattle Times by Shirleen Holt read,

Nearly ten million Americans worked more than sixty hours a week last year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics found. We’ve outpaced the famously productive Japanese in hours worked. We’re the only developed nation without mandatory vacation time. And, according to the Expedia.com’s annual vacation poll, one-third of us will take no vacation this year.

The insight of author Fred Smith comes to mind: “Busyness is the new spirituality.”

Years ago, I would often greet a fellow leader with, “Good to see you! How you doing?” The response would be, “Dave, I am really busy.” Now, when I ask the same question, the response is, “Dave, I am really tired.”

When I probe a little, it is clear that this is not the common sort of tiredness that can be handled with a decent night’s sleep, but a deep, deep sense of exhaustion—emotional, spiritual, and physical. Leaders are falling out of the race and shipwrecking themselves for a number of reasons; and one of them is sheer exhaustion, which leads to frustration, anger, confusion, potential burnout, and, eventually, throwing in the towel.

Causes of Bone-Deep Tiredness

What causes this sort of epidemic of bone-deep tiredness? Here are a few things that come to mind:

1. The inability to say no. Leaders are often servants at heart. They feel called to help people and to try to meet their needs, which are endless and inexhaustible. We have limited capacity, time and gifts and we need to learn to set boundaries, recognize our limits and create margin in our lives. We cannot and should not be at the beck and call of every person with a need. Even Jesus, at times, left people who were in need and disappeared to be by himself (See Luke 5:15,16).
2. The inability to slow down. Too many leaders move at an insane pace and work too many hours. They love to work and, in many cases, get their sense of self-worth through their work. In John Grisham’s novel The Broker, one of the characters says, “I’ve been there (Washington D.C.). I’ve never seen so many people racing around, going nowhere. I don’t understand the desire for such a hectic life. Everything has to be so fast—work, food, sex.” That’s us in the good old USA—going at breakneck speed and not always sure why. One of the results is that we are slowly, but surely, becoming addicted to speed and busyness; and sometimes we’re not even capable of slowing down.
3. The inability to think stragetically. Frankly, I meet very few leaders who are strategic in how they allocate their time and energy. Most are reactive rather than proactive. We are all composed of a few themes and need to stick with our unique contribution.
4. The inability to simplify. Recently, I have been meditating on 1 Timothy 2:1–2 in The Message: “pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation.”

I believe the solution to the epidemic of tiredness is not all that complicated:

• Learn to say no.
• Intentionally slow down.
• Think strategically when you make decisions as to what you will do or not do.
• Simplify your life by de-cluttering your busy schedule.

Charles Swindoll had this observation about our supreme example, Jesus:

Somehow Jesus mastered the art of maintaining a clear perspective while accomplishing every single one of his objectives (John 17:4). A major reason for his being able to say he finished all the father had in mind for him is that he simplified his life.

He followed his own agenda instead of everyone else’s. He also set predetermined limits. He chose twelve (not twelve hundred) whom he trained to carry on in his absence. He stayed with his set of priorities without apology, which means he must have said no a score of times every month. He balanced work and rest, accomplishment and refreshment, never feeling the need to ask permission for spending time in quietness and solitude. He refused to get sidetracked by tempting opportunities that drained energy and time. He was a servant of his father, not a slave of the people. Even though misunderstood, maligned, misquoted, and opposed by numerous enemies and even a few friends, he stayed at it. His simplicity kept him balanced.

Think about it! What do you need to begin doing differently?

Interesting Quote

"Remember to never make a decision by H.A.L.T. - Hungry - Angry - Lonely - Tired this is when you are most vulnerable to Satan's plan!"

Work

Thank You, Jesus for providing...

I am blessed by my job because:

1. My boss pays for lunch

2. It's close to home.

3. It pays for my bills and needs
4. My boss pays me Holidays

Please pray for these things at work:

1. My boss to know God. (He's Jewish)

2. My co-worker to know God. (She's Catholic)

3. For me to be a LIGHT and to pour forth love and Truth from the Holy Spirit.

4. For patience, endurance and zeal to love both of them because it gets difficult when the office gets crazy. And by crazy...I mean crazy. I have a hard time loving them.