Ah Lord GOD! behold,
thou hast made the heaven and the earth
by thy great power and stretched out arm,
and there is nothing impossible, nothing too hard for thee:
Jeremiah 32:17
This is the Scripture verse that got my wife through law school. She took God at God's Word. She believed nothing, not even her making it through law school with honors, was impossible with God, nothing was too hard for God. She beleived God would help her.
And God did help her. It was not impossible for God. She graduated and has gone on to a career of service to humanity, giving reality to the term: Christian lawyer. With her the term is not an oxymoron. She knows firsthand that othing is too hard for God.
What is possible with God? Man has many limitations on what we can do, but with God nothing is impossible. With God all things are possible. God is limitless. All things are possible with God.
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them,
With men this is impossible;
but with God all things are possible.
Matthew 19:26
And Jesus looking upon them saith,
With men it is impossible, but not with God:
for with God all things are possible.
Mark 10:27
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luke 1:37
And he said,
The things which are impossible with men
are possible with God.
Luke 18:27
God is limitless and boundless. NOTHING is impossible with God. Everything, ALL things are possible with God. Alone man is limited and man is bound, but with God nothing is impossible. As human beings, we like to put limits to what is possible with God, but that kind of thinking is wrong, because NOTHING is impossible with God.
I, myself, might not be able to do something, but God can do anything, but with God nothing is impossible, nothing is impossible with God. Nothing is impossible with God, is truth from God that we should hold on to, say to ourselves every day when we wake up, and all throughout our day.
The unbelieving and defeated cry "I can't", which is NOT from God. "I can with God" is from God.
With God:
I can feel better -- I can follow Christ
I can witness for God -- I can quit [insert addiction]
I can have full joy -- I can have peace in my life
I can cease sinning against God -- I can have a close relationship with Jesus
I can find time for worshiping God -- I can quit lying
I can be full of His joy -- I can be content with my life God gave me
I can go to church -- I can help build the church up in Him
I can obey God -- I can study God's word
I can thank God for my life and ALL things -- I can live in love for God and others
I can forgive people in Christ -- I can love all people
I can have an abundant life -- I can do all things God calls me to do.
I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13
There is nothing too hard for God to do! Say it, pray it, declare it, believe it, live as a child of God!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
A Message to Take WIth You on Your Journey
Here is a message shared with our confirmation Class on Pentecost Sunday, 2008. The words can be applied to Christians in various stages of their faith journeys.
Today is an important day. Up until this point in your life, someone has been taking you to Church. Your parents literally carried you here when you were very young, enticed you to participate, and in some cases dragged you kicking and screaming to be here. Your parents were doing their job to give you a moral and spiritual foundation. So, in Sunday School, VBS and Youth Fellowship, you learned important stories from the Bible, you acted in skits and plays, you discussed moral issues, you prayed together, and you did mission and service for the Lord.
Today, you are making a stand for yourself.
Today, we as a church community recognize that you are now professing your faith. You are confirming the Spirit’s call on each of your lives. In this service, we are going to symbolize that starting out by having you read a scripture verse that means something to you, and take a plunge in the waters of the Spirit of God. You were baptized with just a little water when you were a child. On that day, your parents made a pledge to get you to this point, where you can stand on your own, walk of your own free will into the deep waters of the Spirit and take the plunge.
It is a wonderful symbol, spiritually speaking, of diving deeply into the adventure of life. You are just starting out on a great spiritual journey that will last the rest of your life. We cannot live it for you. You will have to make the mistakes yourself, find out God’s surprises yourself, and make profound leaps of faith all by yourself.
This year, we tried to give you a few things to pack with you on the journey, things that will come in handy later on. We read many of the important passages from the Bible, because years from now, if you are ever confused, perhaps frightened, the scriptures will give you a way back to the path when you can’t find it on your own. The Bible is God’s guidebook for your life.
We introduced you to the life of prayer because years from now, when you have to stay focused on what is positive and you have people around you that are sick or in trouble that need your spiritual strength, you will know how to tap into the great force of hope and healing through prayers in Jesus Name. Prayer changes things. The family that prays together stays together!
We got you involved with the idea of service as a lifestyle, because years from now you are going to understand that giving back keeps you human, and it is the Jesus way, and service keeps you grounded in Him. Helping people shows them God’s grace in action. Do acts of kindness.
We involved you in leading worship, because years from now we want you to be at home in the church and we hope you will be in a service of the Lord’s Day every Sunday, participating in His plan, and that worshipping God will be a key part of your lifestyle, and your family’s lifestyle. Going to church may help others more than it helps you, but it will help you, and more importantly, you will showing that you are putting God first in your life.
Lastly, we studied the founders of our denomination, for the Spirit led them mightily. We showed the value of our church and its history, because years from now, you will come to appreciate the fact that, as Christians who learn to love each other, we are the face of Christ for each other, and one of the most profound spiritual experiences you will ever have will be the rich experience of a loving community that really knows you and stays with you unconditionally.
The Reformed Christian tradition, centered on God’s amazing Word, is strong and it has a lot of spiritual nutrient that you will come to appreciate as you get older. And you will need it. Possibly you will be able to complete this adventure with nothing but one great experience after another, but it is not likely. It is likely that somewhere on your journey you are going to have to stand for something that is the right thing to do and others around you will be pressuring you not to do it. You will have to have the courage of your convictions.
It is likely that somewhere on your journey you will be deeply disappointed that something you really wanted or someone you really loved suddenly disappeared. You will have find hope in the midst of discouragement and doubt. It is likely that somewhere on your journey, you will not have enough material resources to do something that is very important and you will have to step out boldly in faith that things will work out anyhow without any evidence that they will. Where God guides, God will provide!
I hope that you will continue the pursuit of God’s truth in His Word. Strive to live out the central teaching of Jesus, the Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’, and remember that understanding other people is a key to getting along in the world. As you go along the journey, enrich your mind by reading the Bible, and don’t be afraid to read the works of great thinkers in philosophy and theology.. As Benjamin Franklin once wrote: “You will only be as profound and as interesting as what you have read and studied seriously.”
Living for Jesus takes focus and discipline. Learn to focus your God given abilities.
There was once a young boy that was very smart, but he didn’t seem engaged in school. His mother took him to see a great Professor to see if he could inspire him to study. The Professor and the boy were talking about science because the boy was very gifted in science. The Professor said, “Tell me, what is the difference between a light and a laser? Do they emit the same energy?”
“Yes”, said the boy, “the energy is the same. The difference is that with a light bulb the energy is going in all directions at once. With a laser it is concentrated along a single beam.”
“Exactly”, said the Professor, “and that is how it gets its piercing power. And so it is with our concentration. We have to bring it to focus.”
So draw upon the great thinkers of the past and draw upon the best part of the Biblical tradition. What has it taught us? That the way of Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, for all who believe in Him. That the positive forces of hope, grace, love, forgiveness, and compassion will ultimately triumph over the negative forces of despair, indifference, resentment, and hate. Open yourself to the positive spiritual energy of God’s universe, and let God’s Holy Spirit flow through your soul, and be a blessing to others! The negative forces will not win. We must reorient ourselves daily to the Good, and focus our energies for God’s purpose and mission.
Yes, the promise of the Spirit is that, in spite of yourself, you can bless other people. You can release the power of love and goodness and beauty. St. Paul, once said, “While we were still the worst of men, sinners all, God loved us.” And at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what kind of skills we started out with, what kind of physique, what kind of mental abilities. What will matter the most is how much love you have released, how much compassion, understanding, grace, forgiveness, hope and peace. What will matter the most is how much blessing you have given to others. And blessing, my friends, is eternal.
So be positive, stay positive. Worship Christ, live in Christ, and share Christ. And may you live to eat the orchards you plant, may you inhabit the houses you build, may you live to see the blessing you release live through the next generations. God be with you, each and every one, in every way, everyday! Amen and Amen!
Today is an important day. Up until this point in your life, someone has been taking you to Church. Your parents literally carried you here when you were very young, enticed you to participate, and in some cases dragged you kicking and screaming to be here. Your parents were doing their job to give you a moral and spiritual foundation. So, in Sunday School, VBS and Youth Fellowship, you learned important stories from the Bible, you acted in skits and plays, you discussed moral issues, you prayed together, and you did mission and service for the Lord.
Today, you are making a stand for yourself.
Today, we as a church community recognize that you are now professing your faith. You are confirming the Spirit’s call on each of your lives. In this service, we are going to symbolize that starting out by having you read a scripture verse that means something to you, and take a plunge in the waters of the Spirit of God. You were baptized with just a little water when you were a child. On that day, your parents made a pledge to get you to this point, where you can stand on your own, walk of your own free will into the deep waters of the Spirit and take the plunge.
It is a wonderful symbol, spiritually speaking, of diving deeply into the adventure of life. You are just starting out on a great spiritual journey that will last the rest of your life. We cannot live it for you. You will have to make the mistakes yourself, find out God’s surprises yourself, and make profound leaps of faith all by yourself.
This year, we tried to give you a few things to pack with you on the journey, things that will come in handy later on. We read many of the important passages from the Bible, because years from now, if you are ever confused, perhaps frightened, the scriptures will give you a way back to the path when you can’t find it on your own. The Bible is God’s guidebook for your life.
We introduced you to the life of prayer because years from now, when you have to stay focused on what is positive and you have people around you that are sick or in trouble that need your spiritual strength, you will know how to tap into the great force of hope and healing through prayers in Jesus Name. Prayer changes things. The family that prays together stays together!
We got you involved with the idea of service as a lifestyle, because years from now you are going to understand that giving back keeps you human, and it is the Jesus way, and service keeps you grounded in Him. Helping people shows them God’s grace in action. Do acts of kindness.
We involved you in leading worship, because years from now we want you to be at home in the church and we hope you will be in a service of the Lord’s Day every Sunday, participating in His plan, and that worshipping God will be a key part of your lifestyle, and your family’s lifestyle. Going to church may help others more than it helps you, but it will help you, and more importantly, you will showing that you are putting God first in your life.
Lastly, we studied the founders of our denomination, for the Spirit led them mightily. We showed the value of our church and its history, because years from now, you will come to appreciate the fact that, as Christians who learn to love each other, we are the face of Christ for each other, and one of the most profound spiritual experiences you will ever have will be the rich experience of a loving community that really knows you and stays with you unconditionally.
The Reformed Christian tradition, centered on God’s amazing Word, is strong and it has a lot of spiritual nutrient that you will come to appreciate as you get older. And you will need it. Possibly you will be able to complete this adventure with nothing but one great experience after another, but it is not likely. It is likely that somewhere on your journey you are going to have to stand for something that is the right thing to do and others around you will be pressuring you not to do it. You will have to have the courage of your convictions.
It is likely that somewhere on your journey you will be deeply disappointed that something you really wanted or someone you really loved suddenly disappeared. You will have find hope in the midst of discouragement and doubt. It is likely that somewhere on your journey, you will not have enough material resources to do something that is very important and you will have to step out boldly in faith that things will work out anyhow without any evidence that they will. Where God guides, God will provide!
I hope that you will continue the pursuit of God’s truth in His Word. Strive to live out the central teaching of Jesus, the Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’, and remember that understanding other people is a key to getting along in the world. As you go along the journey, enrich your mind by reading the Bible, and don’t be afraid to read the works of great thinkers in philosophy and theology.. As Benjamin Franklin once wrote: “You will only be as profound and as interesting as what you have read and studied seriously.”
Living for Jesus takes focus and discipline. Learn to focus your God given abilities.
There was once a young boy that was very smart, but he didn’t seem engaged in school. His mother took him to see a great Professor to see if he could inspire him to study. The Professor and the boy were talking about science because the boy was very gifted in science. The Professor said, “Tell me, what is the difference between a light and a laser? Do they emit the same energy?”
“Yes”, said the boy, “the energy is the same. The difference is that with a light bulb the energy is going in all directions at once. With a laser it is concentrated along a single beam.”
“Exactly”, said the Professor, “and that is how it gets its piercing power. And so it is with our concentration. We have to bring it to focus.”
So draw upon the great thinkers of the past and draw upon the best part of the Biblical tradition. What has it taught us? That the way of Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, for all who believe in Him. That the positive forces of hope, grace, love, forgiveness, and compassion will ultimately triumph over the negative forces of despair, indifference, resentment, and hate. Open yourself to the positive spiritual energy of God’s universe, and let God’s Holy Spirit flow through your soul, and be a blessing to others! The negative forces will not win. We must reorient ourselves daily to the Good, and focus our energies for God’s purpose and mission.
Yes, the promise of the Spirit is that, in spite of yourself, you can bless other people. You can release the power of love and goodness and beauty. St. Paul, once said, “While we were still the worst of men, sinners all, God loved us.” And at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what kind of skills we started out with, what kind of physique, what kind of mental abilities. What will matter the most is how much love you have released, how much compassion, understanding, grace, forgiveness, hope and peace. What will matter the most is how much blessing you have given to others. And blessing, my friends, is eternal.
So be positive, stay positive. Worship Christ, live in Christ, and share Christ. And may you live to eat the orchards you plant, may you inhabit the houses you build, may you live to see the blessing you release live through the next generations. God be with you, each and every one, in every way, everyday! Amen and Amen!
Memorizing Scripture -- Good Spiritual Warfare!
A minister friend of mine sent me some ideas on how to better memorize Scripture. It brought back a powerful memory of a minister in my distant past telling me that memorizing Scripture was "spiritual warfare", calling the action of memorization "storing up good treasure." He based his belief on Luke 6:45: "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart."
Here are my friend's ideas on How to Memorize: "I was convicted to challenge you further to memorize scripture last week, but many people think they can’t memorize, or that they can’t remember anymore. If you aren’t just using those feelings as an excuse not to try, I would share a few suggestions from my own experience that could help you:
1) Pick a verse or passage that is meaningful to you. There is little incentive to put effort into something you are not interested in. I try to pick verses each week that connect with the message and support spiritual growth. If you are not interested in that verse, pick another, or work on a passage. I especially like to work on a special passage or chapter when I am traveling or on vacation.
1a) You should also decide what version of scripture is most comfortable to you. The blessing of a variety of translations is great for Bible study, but a bit of a hindrance when it comes to memorizing. I first started memorizing in the Revised Standard Version (RSV) and then went to NRSV and now use the English Standard Version (which is one of the most accurate and close to original syntax) which is how I print them out for you. Just pick what is best for you.
2) Write the verse on a card. You will start the memorization process as you write, and it will help you order the whole thought of the verse. You can then post the card in a place where you will see it that will help in learning and reviewing it- like on the bathroom mirror or by the kitchen sink, or carry it with you to review when you have a few moments.
3) Repeat phrase by phrase. I start with the reference (ex. Mat. 6:33) and then the first phrase of the verse, when I can repeat it from memory, I add the next phrase and start from the beginning. Continue adding until you have committed it all to memory.
4) Speak the words out loud. An extra dimension is added to memory when we hear ourselves saying the words (some authors talk about a 30-40% increase in memory.
5) Use mental images, vocal emphasis, or physical motions. I find these kinds of little memory tricks very helpful. For example: Romans 10:9 [cross index fingers like a Roman numeral, hold up ten fingers and then 9] Because if you confess with your lips [point to your lips] that Jesus is Lord [make a cross with index fingers and raise your hands, palms up] and believe in your heart [emphasize “believe” as you touch your temple and then your chest with your index finger] that God [point to heaven] raised [raise hand or hands palm up] from the dead, you will be saved. [extra emphasis on each word, I will sometimes double the extra on “will” or “saved”]
6) Think logically. Sometimes it helps me to think logically through the verse. It makes sense to the flow of order. Again to think about Romans 10:9: Confession + belief = salvation.
7) Review previous verses. Once you have taken the effort to memorize a verse, continue to repeat it daily. Review verses you have previously learned. You will find that after you have reviewed a verse for a few weeks, they are yours forever.
8) Be accountable. Make a commitment with another person, or start a group with the commitment to memorize scripture. The best intentions will fall by the wayside over time. It always helps to have someone checking up on you. To really raise the ante, recite your memory verse for someone else. That will really help to fix the verse in your mind.
9) Misc. helps. There are many more things I could share like: memory ability decreases as the day lengthens (it is more beneficial to memorize in the morning); loss of sleep lowers ability; strong feelings and emotions can have a negative effect on memory; intending to remember will improve your memory; you remember best just before sleep and just after you awake- those are the two best times I read my Bible and memorize scripture.
The important thing is to 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.' Colossians 3:16. Nothing worthwhile is gained without personal effort. Dedicate yourself to God’s Word and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to treasure God’s Word in your heart. Attitude is everything. God’s Word is a precious gift and thinking of it in that way can make all the difference I the world."
I encourage you to memorize some key Scriptures in order to build yourself up in Christ. May God bless you in your practice of memorization.
Here are my friend's ideas on How to Memorize: "I was convicted to challenge you further to memorize scripture last week, but many people think they can’t memorize, or that they can’t remember anymore. If you aren’t just using those feelings as an excuse not to try, I would share a few suggestions from my own experience that could help you:
1) Pick a verse or passage that is meaningful to you. There is little incentive to put effort into something you are not interested in. I try to pick verses each week that connect with the message and support spiritual growth. If you are not interested in that verse, pick another, or work on a passage. I especially like to work on a special passage or chapter when I am traveling or on vacation.
1a) You should also decide what version of scripture is most comfortable to you. The blessing of a variety of translations is great for Bible study, but a bit of a hindrance when it comes to memorizing. I first started memorizing in the Revised Standard Version (RSV) and then went to NRSV and now use the English Standard Version (which is one of the most accurate and close to original syntax) which is how I print them out for you. Just pick what is best for you.
2) Write the verse on a card. You will start the memorization process as you write, and it will help you order the whole thought of the verse. You can then post the card in a place where you will see it that will help in learning and reviewing it- like on the bathroom mirror or by the kitchen sink, or carry it with you to review when you have a few moments.
3) Repeat phrase by phrase. I start with the reference (ex. Mat. 6:33) and then the first phrase of the verse, when I can repeat it from memory, I add the next phrase and start from the beginning. Continue adding until you have committed it all to memory.
4) Speak the words out loud. An extra dimension is added to memory when we hear ourselves saying the words (some authors talk about a 30-40% increase in memory.
5) Use mental images, vocal emphasis, or physical motions. I find these kinds of little memory tricks very helpful. For example: Romans 10:9 [cross index fingers like a Roman numeral, hold up ten fingers and then 9] Because if you confess with your lips [point to your lips] that Jesus is Lord [make a cross with index fingers and raise your hands, palms up] and believe in your heart [emphasize “believe” as you touch your temple and then your chest with your index finger] that God [point to heaven] raised [raise hand or hands palm up] from the dead, you will be saved. [extra emphasis on each word, I will sometimes double the extra on “will” or “saved”]
6) Think logically. Sometimes it helps me to think logically through the verse. It makes sense to the flow of order. Again to think about Romans 10:9: Confession + belief = salvation.
7) Review previous verses. Once you have taken the effort to memorize a verse, continue to repeat it daily. Review verses you have previously learned. You will find that after you have reviewed a verse for a few weeks, they are yours forever.
8) Be accountable. Make a commitment with another person, or start a group with the commitment to memorize scripture. The best intentions will fall by the wayside over time. It always helps to have someone checking up on you. To really raise the ante, recite your memory verse for someone else. That will really help to fix the verse in your mind.
9) Misc. helps. There are many more things I could share like: memory ability decreases as the day lengthens (it is more beneficial to memorize in the morning); loss of sleep lowers ability; strong feelings and emotions can have a negative effect on memory; intending to remember will improve your memory; you remember best just before sleep and just after you awake- those are the two best times I read my Bible and memorize scripture.
The important thing is to 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.' Colossians 3:16. Nothing worthwhile is gained without personal effort. Dedicate yourself to God’s Word and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to treasure God’s Word in your heart. Attitude is everything. God’s Word is a precious gift and thinking of it in that way can make all the difference I the world."
I encourage you to memorize some key Scriptures in order to build yourself up in Christ. May God bless you in your practice of memorization.
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