Daily Buffet

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

Posts Tagged ‘trust’

Almost Perfect

July 9th, 2010

As you know last week I was blessed to be able to spend a week on the Gulf coast at one of my most favorite places – the beach. Oh the sun, the warm sand, the soft waves. No. not at all. Because of the recent Hurricane Alex, we spent most of the week being drenched by the feeder bands and then the remaining parts of the hurricane after it come upon shore. It was really disappointed, and quite thought provoking.

One day after spending a little too much time at the house ( even though I really can’t complain, the porches and the porch furniture at this house provided a very relaxing setting for a rainy day) I decided to take a rainy walk on the beach. As I walked on this lonely rainy beach, and I listened to the roar of the waves and watched the dance between the sand and the water, the beauty of this tainted day become very apparent. Also, during the trip I found two shells. Two shells that were almost perfect. One a Nautilus and the other a nice conch-type shell. Both just a little bit broken or covered with ‘junk from the sea”, however both are still very beautiful. It was in these shells that I finally realized something I have always thought – that the beach is so much like our lives. Everyday its different, and even what seems to be the most disappointing of times there is beauty.

Today, you may be dealing with disappointment in your life or in your work, or in your relationships, or maybe even in the mirror. Look past the imperfections and look for the beauty. These two shells are the only two I brought back this year and I hope that each time I glance over at them, I will remember that even when life is full of apparent disappointments that many blessing still exist.

²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (New International Version)

Be Salty!

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Tags: beach examples Psalm salt trust

Feeling Pioneering

June 7th, 2010

Last night I was listening to some stuff from Francis Chan and is this particular piece he tells of a professor who once asked him “What are you doing today that requires faith”? That’s a stumper of a question, but one that we should consider.

And since today is Daniel Boone Day, I think its even more appropriate. Just think about Mr. Boone, heading off into the Transylvania wilderness (that is what he wanted to call Kentucky) way before the Interstate Highway System was even a sparkle in someone’s eye. That took some faith!

So to honor ol’ Daniel, lets get that good time pioneering feeling going today and step out there on faith. Don’t be held back by the fear of the unknown, and the thought of what might happen. But your faith in the creator of the universe to help you and get to it.

^1-2The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. (Hebrews 11:1-2, The Message)

^1-3Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (Hebrews 12:1-2, The Message)

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Tags: Daniel Boone faith Francis Chan Hebrews trust

Snowboarding for Jesus

February 26th, 2010

Yesterday while I was trapped in the imaginary world of all day conference calls, I found a little relief from the drumming sound in my ear to surf the web and check out a few searches. While doing that I stumbled upon a story about a Kelly Clark, an Olympic snowboarder, and how she stumbled into God one day on the half pipe, and how that has completely changed her life.

(watch the video here.)

In this story she tells of how finding out about the Christ has changed her perspective on life and she says this:

But I’ll tell you, I’ve never had more fun snowboarding, and I’ve never been more free.

What a incredible story of a changed life – changed by the power of Christ to free us up and provide us with forgiveness and purpose. And check out her snowboard:

Nice!

So, I checked out this entire site called Beyond the Ultimate. Today or this weekend, take a little time and check it out. It has great stories about the lives -the changed lives -of many Olympic Athletes. Seeing these high performance athletes confirming where their strength comes from is really amazing.

So, take some motivation not only from their exceptional athletic abilities, but also from their personal stories. And be free – even in the imaginary land of conference calls.

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. -Colossians 3:15-17 (New International Version)

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Tags: change Colossians examples Kelly Clark Olympics snowboarding transformation trust

Understanding the Value of Weakness

February 10th, 2010

Sometimes in the car I listen to Way-FM. There is a DJ in the morning named Brant. This guy has a sort of dry mono toned voice, one that on the show has been compared to Kermit the frog, which gets you in the general direction of his voice, although its not the best comparison. Anyway, when I first started listening to this guy, I really didn’t enjoy it, so much that when the song was over and he started talking, I would change the station. That’s crazy isn’t.

But I suppose my hands had better things to do, like driving the vehicle, and so I began to listen to what he was saying and got past the idiosyncrasies of his voice. The more I slowed down and listened the more I liked the what I was hearing, so much that I actually enjoy his commentary now. That’s crazy isn’t.

A few weeks ago, he was talking about where are strength comes from, and how God uses us when we are weak. Its stuck with me over the days, as this is a truth that I have heard from when I was little, but really I don’t it’s been well explained . I mean, we are taught to be strong, to be tough, to be rugged. Although on a physical level there is merit to buffeting the body in a way that it is in its best physical shape, more on that another day. So, we are taught to be strong, however, its not always when we are the strongest that we are used. I think mainly because, when we think we are strong, we look at ourselves. “I have this all under control!” When we are weak, we look other places “God help me”.

So the trick is, staying weak. Staying in a place where we need God – where we recognize our need for God, and not making it all about ourselves. I think that’s called being humble!

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 Cor 12:9-11)

So three things this mornings. First don’t judge so quickly, sometimes you may end up missing some great things, Second, if you are in an area where you can listen to Way-FM, I think you may find some encouragement and some challenges listening in sometimes. And finally, lets delight in our weaknesses, and we ready to be used. Stay lowly, stay meek, and He will use you in ways you cant even imagine or blog!

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Tags: 2 Corinthians humble Mornings with Brant trust WAY-FM

Weekend of Champions

February 8th, 2010

Everyone wants to be a Champion.

This weekend in my house there were several Mario Kart tournaments. Andrew was schooling his grandparents in the finer arts of racing, while his grandmother was just figuring out how to turn the Wii Wheel. That didn’t seem to deter her however, as she hung in there, putting around the course in 12th at her own speed, undeterred by the constant heckles of “push 2″, “you need to go faster” and “here comes Andrew to lap you again”.

Then there was that Super Bowl. Mr. Manning throws an “pick 6″, interception for a touchdown, to lose the game. Disappointing, to say the least. Do you think that makes him any less of a winner?Any less then of one of the greatest players ever to play.

Oh and then there were the commercials. Disappointing. But we know, the marketers will be back again next year with another brand of humor and attempts to keep us glued to the set. (Also, here is the link to the Tebow Ad – what was the big deal?)

And then there is us. We continue to battle and fight and race. Sometimes we lose ( read sin), sometimes we throw an INT ( that’s interception for you non football fans out there, also read mistake), sometimes our words just don’t have the impact they are meant to have. Does that make us a failure? Does that diminish who we are in God’s eyes? Even though we think it does, it doesn’t. He love is unfailing and our hope keeps us going:

Hebrews 10:23-24 (New International Version)

²³Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

And we keep on fighting.