I understand better Jesus' words "Man does not live on bread alone, but on the very words of God."
When you have tasted of our Lord it will not be hard to seek nourishment from Him. To spend many days in prayer and seeking is never in vain. To deny yourself some worldy necessity, like food, and hunger after God is an amazing spiritual discipline.
The Lord will satisfy you on His hidden manna!!!
Whether or not the things I prayed for come to fruition, I know the Lord was pleased to see HIs child seeking Him with a captivated heart. Oh, to love the Lord my God is the greatest desire and pleasure of my entire life!
I love my Lord, I love His Word, I love HIs provision!
Be blessed in your prayer life. Find a closet and stay there!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Life Without the One Eyed Devil
Through God's providence and other reasons to cut back on spending we turned off the cable to our TV. My wife and I had talked about this before in the past for several reasons. It cost $50 a month to watch a handful of channels and it would help us in helping our boys to watch less TV.
I feel I am a decent parent and I monitored closely what my sons watched. But, I began to notice a disturbing pattern-althouth the TV shows were mostly innocent, we had outlawed a bunch, it was the commercials that really bothered me. Every commercial was designed to create a need in my son for the next best toy, game, and movie. It was never ending. It was sick!
But, because of financial mismanagement on our part we had to cut out some unnecessary spending and TV was on the chopping block. Only one boy actually cried when we told him the TV shows were going bye-bye. I knew this was a sign we were doing the right thing. We prepared for helping our boys walk through this monumental tragedy in their young and preciouis lives. Well, wouldn't you know it, they haven't missed TV at all. They have no idea what new shows and games and toys are out there and that has helped our check book amazingly! They still play their games on PS2 and Wii and we watch movies, Disney and kids stuff.
My wife and I thought not having FOX news would be painful. Not really. My life has simplified substantially without that one eyed beast. Not knowing what the President said has been wonderful, not just because I don't approve of him, but it has brought freedom to me. Watching TV makes you care about unimportant things alot. I don't care anymore!!!
I find the information I want to be concerned about through the web on sites I trust and appreciate.
Also, in God's providence He is watching out for us too. Out original TV was loosing its color, everything was turning pink. Not to big of a deal, but annoying. Trying playing games where color makes the difference. Tough, to say the least. Anyway, my parents left us a TV from their RV, a small 19 inch, but beautiful color. We were content. At church, a brother heard about our plight and gave us his 39 inch. Wow! This was a movie theater for us. We got to enjoy it for a week and then the TV went out. I hope to try and get it fixed, but I have this feeling it will be vanity. So, the 19 inch is doing just fine, right next to the quiet and blank 39 incher.
In the end, removing your TV isn't as painful as you might expect. You will be amazed at how many hours you gain in a day.
I feel I am a decent parent and I monitored closely what my sons watched. But, I began to notice a disturbing pattern-althouth the TV shows were mostly innocent, we had outlawed a bunch, it was the commercials that really bothered me. Every commercial was designed to create a need in my son for the next best toy, game, and movie. It was never ending. It was sick!
But, because of financial mismanagement on our part we had to cut out some unnecessary spending and TV was on the chopping block. Only one boy actually cried when we told him the TV shows were going bye-bye. I knew this was a sign we were doing the right thing. We prepared for helping our boys walk through this monumental tragedy in their young and preciouis lives. Well, wouldn't you know it, they haven't missed TV at all. They have no idea what new shows and games and toys are out there and that has helped our check book amazingly! They still play their games on PS2 and Wii and we watch movies, Disney and kids stuff.
My wife and I thought not having FOX news would be painful. Not really. My life has simplified substantially without that one eyed beast. Not knowing what the President said has been wonderful, not just because I don't approve of him, but it has brought freedom to me. Watching TV makes you care about unimportant things alot. I don't care anymore!!!
I find the information I want to be concerned about through the web on sites I trust and appreciate.
Also, in God's providence He is watching out for us too. Out original TV was loosing its color, everything was turning pink. Not to big of a deal, but annoying. Trying playing games where color makes the difference. Tough, to say the least. Anyway, my parents left us a TV from their RV, a small 19 inch, but beautiful color. We were content. At church, a brother heard about our plight and gave us his 39 inch. Wow! This was a movie theater for us. We got to enjoy it for a week and then the TV went out. I hope to try and get it fixed, but I have this feeling it will be vanity. So, the 19 inch is doing just fine, right next to the quiet and blank 39 incher.
In the end, removing your TV isn't as painful as you might expect. You will be amazed at how many hours you gain in a day.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Sin's Consequences
Is sin costly or does our salvation remove all of the consequences?
We know we are saved from the penalty of sin (justification) at the moment of our salvation. Sanctification is our being saved from sins power. When we stand in glory before Jesus we will be glorified, saved from sin's presence.
As believers all of our sin is covered by the blood. In salvation we come to that realization and acknowleding Jesus as our "personal" Savior. But, does that nullify the consequences of our sin? Let us say I have a hidden sin that no one knows about. I struggle with it daily, some days are better than others. On the days when I give into it what are the consequences? If no one knows, then I alone struggle with the misery of knowing I committed a sin before a holy God. How do I know if God is disciplining me? When I get sick is it sickness or God's rod? When I wreck my car, break my favorite item, smash my toe could this be consequences or coincidence?
What keeps God's children continuing to maturity? God knows I am not perfect, he knows I will struggle with my sin until the day I die. So, what should make me want to not sin? If I am completely forgiven what do I have to worry about? I got my "Ticket to Heaven!"
We know we are saved from the penalty of sin (justification) at the moment of our salvation. Sanctification is our being saved from sins power. When we stand in glory before Jesus we will be glorified, saved from sin's presence.
As believers all of our sin is covered by the blood. In salvation we come to that realization and acknowleding Jesus as our "personal" Savior. But, does that nullify the consequences of our sin? Let us say I have a hidden sin that no one knows about. I struggle with it daily, some days are better than others. On the days when I give into it what are the consequences? If no one knows, then I alone struggle with the misery of knowing I committed a sin before a holy God. How do I know if God is disciplining me? When I get sick is it sickness or God's rod? When I wreck my car, break my favorite item, smash my toe could this be consequences or coincidence?
What keeps God's children continuing to maturity? God knows I am not perfect, he knows I will struggle with my sin until the day I die. So, what should make me want to not sin? If I am completely forgiven what do I have to worry about? I got my "Ticket to Heaven!"
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