Posts Tagged ‘2 Corinthians’

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I Would Like to Congratulate…

January 6th, 2011

… the other person.

How often has that happened to you.  You work, you give your effort, you make something successful and the accolades go to another maybe less deserving person.  It’s frustrating, anger provoking and demoralizing.  However, maybe, just maybe we can examine this in a different light and actually take joy when that happens.

For instance, remember Gideon.  When he was asked by God to save Israel, he responded like this

15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” Judges 6:15

but the Creator of the Universe said in reply to him

“I will be with you.”

It seems God likes to use us when we think we are weak for his glory.  Notice 2 Corinthians:

10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

In our weakness, we are strong.

So, how does this relate to other’s getting the accolades.  I think it’s like this – God uses us in our weakness to show his glory versus the alternative which is that we forsake God and claim that it was all us.

When others are given the praise, remember what you are working for.  Is it bring glory upon your head, or to bring glory to the Lord?  I think I will set out to bring glory to the Lord, becoming nothing in the eyes of men – just a servant of the Creator of the World.

So today, as you enter the battlefield of life, recall Gideon, least in the weakest clan, but made a great warrior when he let God lead him.

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Stormy Stormy

October 27th, 2010

With all the crazy weather going on all over the U.S. this week, I can’t help but mention something about storms.  It’s pretty amazing that the weather watchers can predict this odd type of behavior and the approaching storms with relative accuracy.  They told us on Sunday that Tuesday would be an incredible day.  That’s really an impressive thing, and a blessing as it allows us to prepare as much as we can, for whatever weather is sending our way.

Wouldn’t it be nice it the storms of life were predicable like that.  What if you had “the Life Weather Channel”, where two people would tell you that an angry co worker was heading your way, or that the car was going to break down on Thursday, or that whatever day altering event was on the horizon.  But alas, we have not.

What we do have are promises from God to help us prepare and endure the unpredictable.  Check it from Isaiah

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (New International Version)

and 2 Corinthians

 My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
   My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, The Message)

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It’s Here!

September 15th, 2010

Yesterday Microsoft released Halo:Reach, the latest in it’s Halo series of games for the XBox.  Of course with two boys (well three), in the house, there has been a lot of anticipation for this day.  They stopped and picked it up after school last night, and they could hardly stand the wait to play it.  Homework was hastily done, soccer practice was just walked through.  The focus of the night was getting back to play the new game.

The boys talked about it all day at school yesterday and probably will again today.  The anticipation, the excitement,  the innocence.

I have penned words on this subject before.  But I am still amazed by it.  I am amazed by the excitement that children can generate.  You see, on the other side of the house, Amy and I are discussing how we are going to get all of our stuff done.   How are going to get the car fixed?  Where are we meeting for dinner?  Who is going where, who is taking what task?  Can you believe this is what happened at work? etc.  I look longingly back to the children and the incredible passion they are able to muster for things, ideas, and events.

I think this is also one reason I was so enamored with the video I shared on Friday.   We must continue to find a way to live with that childhood exuberance even while doing “adult” things, but boy is it hard.  So today, is just a reminder to keep your passion for life alive despite the crushing weight of life.  We serve the Master who said he will “make all things new”.

15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:15-17 (New International Version)

You may want to read the whole of chapter 4 if you have time.   Have a great day and life with some exuberance, you are living in the age of freedom and mercy!

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Straight Day

August 9th, 2010

Here in America where we use the middle endian date format, today is a straight.  Well, a small straight, 8-9-10.  Just to go with that fun calendar theme, that doesn’t happen very often, I decided to just gamble a little with my verse of the day. So I headed over to the 8th book of the New Testament, the 9th chapter and the 10 verse to see what I would fine.  ( I know pretty risky right!)
And look what I found there:

10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness 2 Corinthians 9:10 (New International Version)

The message looked pretty interested, so it was probably worth stepping back for some context:

8-11God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10, The Message)

Wow, God is promising that he will give to you in abundance grace and mercy, that you will ready to serve and give to others.  It’s a great promise, and provides a great deal of strength to tackle anything that is in front of you.

Take the gamble today, and give away what you have been given.  Watch how it will grow!

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Comfort Zone

July 23rd, 2010

Wow!  What a fantastic week!  Ray and Joel did a great job sharing their experiences and trials this week, and I want to thank them for that.  Amy and I are heading to meet up with the boys this morning.  They just finished up a week of skim boarding camp in Delaware.

The interesting thing about that is that one of them was just not really excited about this at all and was quite nervous about the proposition.  It was the whole concept of a new endeavor that had him a little worried.  Turns out, or so it seems, he has had a very enjoyable experience. And it was the same for us, this is the first time we had left both boys and gone our own way for YEARS ( maybe FOREVER).

And so it is with our lives.  Ray even referred to it yesterday.  Sometimes, we feel so comfortable in our own place that its hard to leave that comfort zone and experience new things, or even to challenge our selves to grow.  But as Mary Poppins says “a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down” and as our Lord and Savior says ” a mustard seed of faith moves mountains”.

Step out there today.  Whether it is forcing yourself to speak to someone, sharing your faith, expressing your thoughts, experiencing something new, or even ordering something different from the menu!  Or Maybe you need to let go, as Amy and I did, but in a larger sense and put more of the handling of life’s events in the hands of the Lord.  Do it today, step out of your comfort zone and see where you get taken.

8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (New International Version)

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