Some devotional thoughts from Truth For Life...
June 5, 2006
ANYONE WHO DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD. 1 John 4:8The distinguishing mark of a Christian is his confidence in Christ's love for him and in the offering of his love to Christ. First, faith sets her seal upon the man by enabling the soul to say with the apostle, "Christ loved me and gave himself for me."1 Then love gives the countersign and stamps upon the heart gratitude and love to Jesus in return. "We love because he first loved us."2 In those grand old ages, which are the heroic period of the Christian religion, this double mark was clearly seen in all believers in Jesus; they were men who knew the love of Christ and rested upon it as a man leans upon a staff whose trustiness he has proved. The love that they felt toward the Lord was not a quiet emotion that they hid within themselves in the secret place of their souls and that they only spoke about in private or when they met on the first day of the week and sang hymns in honor of Christ Jesus the crucified; it was a passion with them of such a vehement and all-consuming energy that it was visible in all their actions, evident in their conversation, and seen in their eyes, even in their casual glances. Love for Jesus was a flame that fed upon the core and heart of their being and therefore by its own force burned its way into their demeanor and shone there. Zeal for the glory of King Jesus was the seal and mark of all genuine Christians. Because of their dependence upon Christ's love they dared much, and because of their love for Christ they did much, and it is the same now. The children of God are ruled in their inmost powers by love. The love of Christ constrains them; they rejoice that divine love is set upon them, they feel it shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit, who is given to them, and then by force of gratitude they love the Savior with a pure and fervent heart. My reader, do you love Him? Before you sleep, give an honest answer to this weighty question! 1 Galatians 2:20 2 1 John 4:19
Monday, June 05, 2006
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Weekend Update
The weekend we have been awaiting has arrived, as almost the entire launch team is now in CO. Only one family left to go and we will all be in Boulder County. This weekend Jan, the kids and I all traveled back to NE for Kris's (Jan's brother) wedding. He tied the knot with Jenni Halstead, a great gal with a big heart for God, and we are thrilled to see Kris get married. The turnout was big, the party was fun and all made it safely. It was great to see family, friends and old acquaintances. We will do it all again in one month, as Nikki (Jan's little sister) is getting married, as well.
Summer is here to stay with warm temps around 90 and lots of sunshine. Swim lessons begin next week for Jonatha and Aidan. I don't golf anymore, so I better find a summer hobby. Jan is keeping quite busy with the kids and work is keeping me occupied most of the week.
God is awesome, isn't he? I was reading in Colossians this weekend and reminded once again on how to be praying. This really seems to be a constant lesson for me as of late. I am most challenged by God's calling to me to step it up in prayer all the more, as I seek to know him more deeply. What blessings come when we stay focused on growing in our knowledge of Christ!
Summer is here to stay with warm temps around 90 and lots of sunshine. Swim lessons begin next week for Jonatha and Aidan. I don't golf anymore, so I better find a summer hobby. Jan is keeping quite busy with the kids and work is keeping me occupied most of the week.
God is awesome, isn't he? I was reading in Colossians this weekend and reminded once again on how to be praying. This really seems to be a constant lesson for me as of late. I am most challenged by God's calling to me to step it up in prayer all the more, as I seek to know him more deeply. What blessings come when we stay focused on growing in our knowledge of Christ!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Word for Today
Philippians 4:4-7
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Ever feel God bringing you back to a truth you've heard a thousand times and yet you learn something new? God has been doing that with me this past week, through his word, through music on the way to work, through the message at service on Sunday morning. What a great reminder to rest in him and his peace. God is faithful, and he will not allow us to go through any temptation or trial beyond that we can bear. He will also lead us in his mercy and peace, in the good times, in the bad, and in the challenging times. Right now, I feel the Tighe's are going through a very good time, yet very challenging. We are so very blessed to have been called of God to Boulder County, yet we feel we are being challenged in many ways. The message at service this week was centered around being displaced by God. In Jeremiah, he told his people he would displace them to a new land quite far away, yet he would not only provide for them, but give them more than they could imagine. In a lot of ways, we have been displaced here in CO. The culture, environment, surroundings, are all different. Yet, God, in his grace, gives us what we need to adjust, acclimate and accept his call. Any challenges we face are only a training ground for growth, and by growing in Christ, we walk closer to him and to each other. God is truly awesome and truly good!
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Ever feel God bringing you back to a truth you've heard a thousand times and yet you learn something new? God has been doing that with me this past week, through his word, through music on the way to work, through the message at service on Sunday morning. What a great reminder to rest in him and his peace. God is faithful, and he will not allow us to go through any temptation or trial beyond that we can bear. He will also lead us in his mercy and peace, in the good times, in the bad, and in the challenging times. Right now, I feel the Tighe's are going through a very good time, yet very challenging. We are so very blessed to have been called of God to Boulder County, yet we feel we are being challenged in many ways. The message at service this week was centered around being displaced by God. In Jeremiah, he told his people he would displace them to a new land quite far away, yet he would not only provide for them, but give them more than they could imagine. In a lot of ways, we have been displaced here in CO. The culture, environment, surroundings, are all different. Yet, God, in his grace, gives us what we need to adjust, acclimate and accept his call. Any challenges we face are only a training ground for growth, and by growing in Christ, we walk closer to him and to each other. God is truly awesome and truly good!
Monday, May 29, 2006
Friday, May 19, 2006
God Answers Better Than We Ask
I don't need to add much to the following devotion. For us, as we pray about the sale of our house in North Platte, this is truly encouraging...
AND HE ASKED THAT HE MIGHT DIE. 1 Kings 19:4It was a remarkable thing that the man who was never to die, for whom God had ordained an infinitely better lot, the man who would be carried to heaven in a chariot of fire and be translated and not see death, should thus pray, "Take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." We have here a memorable proof that God does not always answer prayer in kind, though He always does in effect. He gave Elijah something better than what he asked for, and thus really heard and answered him. It was strange that the lion-hearted Elijah should be so depressed by Jezebel's threat as to ask to die, and yet it was so kind on the part of our heavenly Father not to take His desponding servant at his word. There is a limit to the doctrine of the prayer of faith. We are not to expect that God will give us everything we choose to ask for. We know that we sometimes ask and do not receive because we ask wrongly. If we ask for that which is not promised--if we run counter to the spirit that the Lord would have us cultivate--if we ask contrary to His will or to the decrees of His providence--if we ask merely for selfish gratification and without a concern for His glory, we must not expect that we will receive. But when we ask in faith, without doubting, if we do not receive the precise thing for which we asked, we shall receive an equivalent, and more than an equivalent, for it. As one remarks, "If the Lord does not pay in silver, He will in gold; and if He does not pay in gold, He will in diamonds." If He does not give you precisely what you ask for, He will give you that which is tantamount to it, and that which you will be happy to receive in its place. So, dear reader, be much in prayer, and make this evening a time of earnest intercession, but be careful what you ask for!
AND HE ASKED THAT HE MIGHT DIE. 1 Kings 19:4It was a remarkable thing that the man who was never to die, for whom God had ordained an infinitely better lot, the man who would be carried to heaven in a chariot of fire and be translated and not see death, should thus pray, "Take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." We have here a memorable proof that God does not always answer prayer in kind, though He always does in effect. He gave Elijah something better than what he asked for, and thus really heard and answered him. It was strange that the lion-hearted Elijah should be so depressed by Jezebel's threat as to ask to die, and yet it was so kind on the part of our heavenly Father not to take His desponding servant at his word. There is a limit to the doctrine of the prayer of faith. We are not to expect that God will give us everything we choose to ask for. We know that we sometimes ask and do not receive because we ask wrongly. If we ask for that which is not promised--if we run counter to the spirit that the Lord would have us cultivate--if we ask contrary to His will or to the decrees of His providence--if we ask merely for selfish gratification and without a concern for His glory, we must not expect that we will receive. But when we ask in faith, without doubting, if we do not receive the precise thing for which we asked, we shall receive an equivalent, and more than an equivalent, for it. As one remarks, "If the Lord does not pay in silver, He will in gold; and if He does not pay in gold, He will in diamonds." If He does not give you precisely what you ask for, He will give you that which is tantamount to it, and that which you will be happy to receive in its place. So, dear reader, be much in prayer, and make this evening a time of earnest intercession, but be careful what you ask for!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)