Given a fork in the road,
do you take the path
that is worn smooth?
When you get dressed
do you wear what
won’t
get you noticed?
Do you lift your hand
in class
if you
aren’t
sure?
God’s eye is on the brave
and brave is different for
every man
and woman.
There’s freedom
and reward
in stepping out
of the skin
you’ve grown used to.
Don’t assume as far
as you’ve come
is as far as you can
go.
God never runs
out of plans for
us.
We just
stop listening.
John the Baptist preaching
in the wilderness of Judea,
saying,
“Repent for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.”
He prepared the way for Jesus
the kingdom is at hand
baptizing in the Jordan river
the kingdom is at hand
then Jesus came from Galilee
but John said, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do you come to me?”
in the Jordan river
the Holy Spirit came down
in the river
as a dove
with the heavenly sound
of the Lord
saying,
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
I would be on my knees!
In the Jordan
Jesus and John
in the Jordan
Pharisees and Sadducees
the beginning of the end for these.
in the Jordan
Give ear to my words,
O Lord,
Consider my groaning.
Heed the sound of my
cry for help, my King
and my God,
For to You I pray.
In the morning, O Lord,
You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will
order my prayer to You
and eagerly watch.
Psalm 5:1-3
I wish I started out every day like the Psalmist.
The truth is there are way too many days
that are off to the races before I’ve really
given God a chance to be involved in my
plans. David wasn’t afraid to throw it all
on the table before God. My favorite part of this
Psalm is at the end of the third verse where he
says, “In the morning I will order my prayer to
You and eagerly watch.” For David, his God was not
cold, silent, and still. He put his prayers out before
God and “eagerly” waited to see what God would do.
God wants to be involved in your life, but your attitude
and expectation will greatly determine His degree of
involvement.
As we all consider the evil that has once again put itself on display, this time in Boston, at the sight of the yearly marathon, I believe it’s important to remember that God is just. We may think occasionally that the people who perpetrate these kinds of horror go without punishment, but this is not true. While it is our responsibility to deal appropriately with those responsible, ultimately nothing escapes Gods judgement.
You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Loving-kindness and truth go before You. Psalm 89:13-14
Finally, the words of my wife’s mother, Marlene, who passed away in 1976. She wrote this song to express the freedom she had in the Lord. I would like to dedicate it tonight in her memory to the victims and their families in Boston. It is entitled “I Am Free.”
I am Free. In Him do I
abide. Molded, yielding,
a promised bride.
He set my spirit free; on
wings I can ascend, to
light and uncharted places,
to commune with my Friend.
Indwelling Joy floods my soul,
lifting, filling, in His control.
I am free. Jesus set me free,
on wings on high, to melt
in Jesus’ holiness. To praise
Him, extol Him and Glorify.
M.C.
After some consideration, and for the following reasons, to name a few, I have determined to abandon the use of the phrase, “Devil’s Advocate.” : First, he has done nothing worthy of my fealty. Second, he clearly has no need for additional team members. Third, I am a devoted follower of his opposition.
“If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve, and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.”
Joshua 24:15 The Message
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 NIV
More than just contentment stole my heart that Summer day
when He took hold of all of me and settled in.
The certainty of being in
right time and place and will,
made it easy to surrender mine to Him.
You’re the notes for the song I’m singing, Jesus.
You’re the rhythm, You’re the key, and You’re the rhyme.
You’re the anchor that I hold onto, new colors when I’m feeling blue,
I welcome You this morning like the first time.
Although my world swings
out of orbit sometimes.
I’m not always sure
of what’s around the bend.
When my mailbox is full of bills,
my head is spinning and I’m ill,
I count on what dear Savior
You will send.
You’re the notes for the song I’m singing, Jesus.
You’re the rhythm, You’re the key, and You’re the rhyme.
You’re the anchor that I hold onto, new colors when I’m feeling blue,
I welcome you this morning like the first time.
It’s never mattered how frightening the storm,
never mattered how frightening the storm,
Jesus you are bigger than my storms!
You’re the notes for the song I’m singing, Jesus
You’re the rhythm, You’re the key, and You’re the rhyme
You’re the anchor that I hold onto, new colors when I’m feeling blue,
I welcome You this morning like the first time.
Like the first time.
minister sans ego
tender hearts hear beyond words
shared burdens lightened
I
a
door
U
the
1
eye
most
trust
in
side
U
reached
4th
with
2
hands
With
U
eye
doughnut
knead
2
Hyde
In
sail
or
swim
or
sink
with
U
air’s
know
missing
link
No
matter
how
ruff
the
see
I
a
door
U
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:20
The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Acts 1:1-3 “…but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth.” And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Verses 8-9
Jesus, in Your glory,
ascended to God’s right hand,
You have paved the way for us,
Your followers.
Most of us don’t suffer as the majority
of Your disciples did
risking
torture and death
for proclaiming your story.
If the disciples had simply
faded away, and not proclaimed
all that they had witnessed,
they would have avoided such
suffering.
But they didn’t fade away.
They delivered the gospel message
to so many, that over 2,000 years
later we are still talking about it
and experiencing the miracle of changed
lives the message of Christ bestows.
Remember how precious this knowledge is!
To this day, people are imprisoned for
spreading the good news. It is incumbent
upon us, after experiencing the transforming
power of Jesus Christ, to share that
message in any way we are able.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).
Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'”
Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
John 20:15-18
“Why are you weeping? Who are you seeking?”
To a heartbroken Mary, after His death and resurrection.
Jesus, it can’t be You! Teacher, can it be true?
Maybe if I hold You close,
and I keep my eyes open
this time, you won’t go
Please tell me
you won’t leave me
again.
I know that I cling,
but seeing you again
makes me want to sing.
How could you leave a second time?
I don’t understand.
But I believe,
and trust
and love You
Now that I’ve seen,
I’ll tell everyone
that you rose
and it wasn’t a dream
The stone rolled away
here you are
in front of
your empty grave
Now the
world
must
know
death
no longer rules
for here You are.
Write here, Joel. 