Daily Buffet

…but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage;

Posts Tagged ‘prayer’

A New Psalm

January 24th, 2011

The other day I was bouncing around the book of Psalm investigating the prayers of King David and discovered something very new. It was like this little gem had been hidden from my eyes for years, or maybe someone had remove the page from my bible I dunno. Either way, I found the 141 rendition of the Psalms to be quite fascinating and intriguing. It could be that David’s prayer and my prayer are just matching up, but since I can’t recall this being expressed very much in the all so many bible study lessons I have audited, I found it a good thing to share on this Monday morning as we head back to the ol’ mill, as it where.

3 Set a guard over my mouth, LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.

That coupled with a very stanzas of Psalm 143 combine to make a pretty good thought for the day.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD,
for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

As you get out there in the world today and let your light shine, continue to watch your heart and find shelter in the Creator!

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Posted in Daily Post

Tags: David prayer Psalm

Continue To Make It Known

August 23rd, 2010

Hey, I think this is the 2ooth daily post today. That’s pretty incredible! I hope you are still finding as much encouragement reading this, as I am writing it. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts and encouraging words back to me!

To get this week started off correctly maybe we should remember that our Savior and leader, the Son of God, Jesus Christ prayed for us before he left this world. And he didn’t just say I’ll pray for you, or “Lord, remember them”. He was very explicit in his words and they show his love for us and the desire of this hearts for us.

^20-23I’m praying not only for them
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you’ve sent me and loved them
In the same way you’ve loved me. (John 17, MSG)

And what is so cool is that earlier in the prayer as he is prayer for his disciples, he added this:

Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life…

and this

I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.

and this

I’m not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;

Wow, What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 (New International Version)) Live boldly for him today, and let others experience the love that you have experienced.

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Posted in Daily Post

Tags: encouragement Jesus John power praise prayer

Today for God?

April 12th, 2010

Last night, I was listening to some clips from Francis Chan, and in this clip he mentions an idea on how to face the day. He suggests that instead of praying today for God to give you this or to help you to that, that you instead ask God. Ask God where he wants you today. Ask God to lead your where he wants you to go. Essentially instead of asking God to fit your agenda, adjust your agenda to Gods.

This is really a thought provoking way of looking at the day. So that’s really it today. Can you look at today and say, God, how do you want me to serve you today? How do you want me to glorify you.. with the next customer, the next conference call, the next problem ,the next child, the next class….?

Approach you day and realize he is with you.

⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10New International Version (NIV)

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Tags: examples Francis Chan Galations prayer

No Blue Lines on My Calendar

March 3rd, 2010

Every day is a special day. Another chance, another opportunity.

I have mentioned several times that I spend most of my days on the telephone and in conference calls. I have been very stressed about some other tasks that I have been asked to complete that I have been kept away from because of these calls. The stress from that has just been ridiculous, and so I have often been praying for ways to handle it.

Well, I think today is a gift and an answer. We like to point out the big things God does for us- the healings, new jobs etc- but today I want to emphasis a small little thing. Its a day on the calendar without any meetings!

I think this is an answer to prayer – a gift, a simple gift, a special day.

Today, I will do my best to use the day given to me to reduce the stress that was creeping into other areas, other more important areas, of my life. You probably have been given some simple gifts today as well. Take the opportunity to use those – take advantage of them, treat them well! and give Glory where it is due.

Psalm 103:1-5 (New International Version)

¹ Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

² Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

³ who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

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Posted in Daily Post

Tags: gifts prayer Psalm

Speed of Change:Becoming an Expert

February 4th, 2010

Way back in December, I posted about the speed of change, and mentioned that I would revisit that issue in the future. Well, earlier this week, while the auditory portions of my brain listened to a conference call ramble on, the visible portion of my brain, surfed the web with reckless abandon, until I stumbled upon a article about becoming an expert. It was at this point that all of my focus was on this article.

Although the comments after the post debate some of the findings, the writer of the post, Penelope, refers to a Harvard Business Review article entitled The Making of an Expert, where research points to this conclusion

that there is no correlation between IQ and expert performance in fields such as chess, music, sports, and medicine has borne out his findings. The only innate differences that turn out to be significant—and they matter primarily in sports—are height and body size.

Essentially suggesting that to become an expert at something it takes time, training, and desire. The article also points out the importance of a mentor and guide in developing expertise.

I find this interesting to apply to work, but I also find it interesting when we think about ourselves. I can’t remember how many times I have heard people pray to be a “better Christian”. We expect that we can utter a single prayer, and boom the character trait or temptation that we struggle with just disappears! It’s not going to happen like that. Mastery take time. Author Malcolm Gladwell has make famous – ( apparently, as I have not personally read this yet, only references to it, although I have heard him speak, so I think that makes it ok for me to quote him!?!)- a 10,000 hour rule to becoming a expert. That’s 5 years!

So today realize that the world is changing fast around us, but don’t be discouraged if you don’t see the mastery in your life overnight. It takes time. But not just clock time. It takes time working at the problem. It takes time working with a mentor, it takes time studying, praying for change, focusing on the issue. You can change, you can attain mastery.