Thursday, August 21, 2008

I Believe It Was God

This . . .
I saw a leaf fall today. It was only one, but it did fall.
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That . . .
Taylor and Lee Ann had a great crop of tomatoes this summer.
I think they ate both of them for supper tonight.
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This is That . . .
Matthew 6:3-4
3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
I wonder if God practices what he preaches?
I don't mean anything (Ican't think of the word) by saying that, I'm just thinking . . .
It seems that most of what God does in this age, he does in secret.
I forever want Him to do something great then shout out,
"That was me!"
But usually it comes out more as a question, "Was that you God?"
Then I answer myself, "Yes, I think it was".
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I had something like that happen today. Some things came together that had that "in God's perfect timing" feel about it. I wasn't even really asking, it was more like God knew what I needed even before I asked.
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And so I come to you tonight God, with thanksgiving and praise.
You are good. Your ways are perfect.
Thank you for loving me; Thank you for even thinking of me.
I love you, and I acknowledge that all good things come from you.
I praise you Lord! Let all that is within me Bless Your Holy Name!
Amen.

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Monday, August 18, 2008

Jesus . . . You're Beautiful

This . . .
During worship yesterday, I heard a song that I hadn't heard before called "Beautiful".
The chorus included this phrase, "ohhhh, ohhhh, you're beautiful".
I decided to google "ohhh you're beautiful" to try and find the song.
This led me to click on a youtube video that most certainly wasn't the kind of beautiful I was thinking of. I couldn't find the X Out button fast enough.
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That . . .
My granddaughter Lucy is so sweet.
She just turned one and she is really, really sweet.
Also, she is soooooo sweet.
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This is That . . .
Phil Wickham - "Beautiful"
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I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say You're beautiful
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Oooohhh. Ooohhh. Oooohhh. Ooohhh . . . You're Beautiful.
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I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It's all proclaiming who You are
You're beautiful.
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Oooohhh. Ooohhh.Oooohhh. Ooohhh . . . You're Beautiful.
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I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You're beautiful.
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Oooohhh. Ooohhh.Oooohhh. Ooohhh . . .You're Beautiful..
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When we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful.
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Oooohhh. Ooohhh.Oooohhh. Ooohhh . . . You're Beautiful.
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Phil Wickham: Beautiful @ Rutgers: Resound 2008

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Battle Time

This . . .
It has been good to have Elliott home for a few days. I have long been familiar with the saying, "Wake up and smell the coffee", but last night I woke up at about 1:30 a.m. and "Smelled the popcorn".
Elliott loves the night time.
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That . . .
"The Call DC" is this Saturday from 9:00 a.m. til 9:00 p.m.
Join in on http://us.god.tv/ or on Direct TV channel 365.
Twelve hours of worship and intercession.
Can God change a nation in a day?
When we call out, He will answer.
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This is That . . .
There are different stages of battle, different stages of spiritual warfare.
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There is a time to get ready, to prepare, to get familiar with our armour: The helmet of salvation, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit.
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Then there is a time of waiting. It's Moses camped out with the enemy closing in the night before God parts the waters. It's Gideon the night before waiting for the right time to shout and blow the trumpet. It's Joshua waiting for God to make a way into the promised land. It's Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father waiting for the right time.
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Then there is a time for battle. The time to cross over and take the land. The time to blow the trumpet. The time to shout. The time to declare the word of the Lord.
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In the smaller sense, all of these stages are going on all of the time as we face various trials and challenges.
Some things can wait.
Some things can't.
For those things - it's battletime.
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Sunday, August 03, 2008

Crying Out

This . . .
I have an old pair of cut off sweat pants that no longer has a draw string. So I had these shorts on when I went out to mow the yard this evening. After about a lap and a half of happy mowing, let's just say, my pants fell down. I did what anyone would do - I took a quick look around to make sure that no one was looking and then pulled my pants back up. The whole thing reminded me of Funniest Home Videos only it wasn't really that funny since no one was looking.
Here's the question: If you are all alone in a forest and your pants fall down with no one looking, is it still funny?
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That . . .
Another working in the yard story.
There is a pit bull named "Rufus" chained up in our neighbors back yard about 30 feet from our tomato patch. He has a big old chain with a padlock around his neck. I am very glad about this chain thing.
When I water the tomatos in the evening he usually takes off running towards me, dragging his dog house, stirring up all sorts of dust and barking savagely. I can't keep my hair from standing on end, but I try to remain calm and show no fear.
Tonight I started to say, "Good dog, Rufus" cause thats what I always say to dogs, but I knew that wouldn't be true, so I instead I said,
"you're a . . . dog, Rufus.
Yes you are, what a . . . dog you are."
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This is That . . .
I have been meditating on Isaiah 30:18-21
18 Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem;
You shall weep no more.
He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry;
When He hears it, He will answer you.
20 And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction,
Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore,
But your eyes shall see your teachers.
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“ This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand or
whenever you turn to the left.
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I cry out for forgiveness.
I cry out for God to have mercy.
I cry out for God to set His love as a seal upon my heart.
I cry out for grace to love God with all my heart, mind and soul.
I cry out for unity among all believers.
I cry out for God to end abortion.
I cry out for wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God.
I cry out for restoration of relationships.
I cry out for Salvation of loved ones.
I cry out for healing.
I cry out for God to rend the heavens and bring revival.
I cry out for God to provide for all of my needs according to His riches in Glory thru Christ Jesus.
I cry out for the return of Christ, and his reign over the earth in the millennium.
I cry out to hear a word behind me saying, "This is the way, walk in it".
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When He hears my cry, He will answer.
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