A Brand New Day

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Allahu Akbar and 9.0

Never in my lifetime did I expect to see my country so vulnerable. Irresponsible leadership has brought our economy to its knees. Our country is in two wars, a third is in the winds. And we are a house divided.

What is going on?

There is rioting in the streets of France, Greece and Great Britain. Governments in the middle east are dropping like flies, and the Muslim Brotherhood is setting up camp all around Israel. 1 million Haitians made homeless and starving by a catastrophic 7.0 earthquake. Japan has been decimated by a 9.0 quake, the strongest to hit her in a thousand years. A tsunami followed, triggering a massive power grid failure, which now threatens a nuclear meltdown.

Where is God in all of this?

Jesus said in Matthew 24:6-8: "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."

He is speaking to us through revelation, and teaching through suffering. When we are at our lowest, most helpless, we become most teachable. Notice that Jesus said "but see to it that you are not alarmed."

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

And in Revelation 21:4, John said, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

God is here with outstretched arms. And to those who have accepted His grace, they can expect to receive His promise.

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Monday, March 14, 2011

God Whispers

"The man whispered, "God, speak to me" and a meadowlark sang. But, the man did not hear.

So the man yelled, "God, speak to me" and the thunder rolled across the sky. But, the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly. But the man did not see.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here." Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on."

This past weekend, I went camping with my son in the Ocala National Forest. There is only one other place on earth where the stars shine brighter (Dennis, you know of where I speak). The air was brisk, and the fire, warm. Each morning we woke to the Whippoorwill, and the birds of song. Our pleasures were simple - black coffee perked over the morning fire. Roasted marshmallows in the evening. Quiet time in a canoe, a five pound bass that would not bite, and watching the otters play.

This weekend I heard God whispering. Saw him shining. And felt his touch. Thank you Lord, for simple pleasures and your quiet voice.

"Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!" – Proverbs 8:34

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Tempting

He brought shame, guilt and the penalty of death in the garden. He tempted Job to curse God. He tempted David with Bathsheba. He tempted Jesus in the desert. He desired to sift Peter as wheat. He is a liar and a thief, yet we fall for his temptations time and again.

But the good news is:

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." – 1 Corinthians 10:13

The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. Never let him come back and lie to you again. Emmerce yourself in truth, and the truth will set you free.

Seeking and Following,

Dean

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Words

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." – Ephesians 4:29

Below are words to live by:

The 6 most important words:
– I admit I made a mistake

The 5 most important words:
– you did a good job

The 4 most important words:
– what is your opinion

The 3 most important words:
– if you please

The 2 most important words:
– thank you

The most important word:
– we

The least important word:
– I

Following and Seeking,
Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

The Butterfly Effect

The law of "Sensitive Dependence on Initial Conditions" contends, that a simple change at one place, can cause profound changes elsewhere in a complex system. The butterfly effect is a metaphor for this theory. The tiny changes in the atmosphere caused by the flapping wings of a butterfly, may set off a series of events that can ultimately create a hurricane.

Take a few minutes to watch Andy Andrews talk about the Butterfly Effect in the real world.

You will heard Andy talk about Joshua Chamberlain, Henry Wallace and George Washington Carver. But we as Christians know of a better example – Jesus Christ. Where would the world be today, had God not sent his Son to die for our sins? Where would the world be tomorrow, had you not lived today? The Butterfly Effect. Never underestimate the value that your Christian walk is having on the world around you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x4e8xTvQh8

Seeking and Following,
Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

I Am a Christian

"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." – Romans 7:14-20

If Paul, the author of most of the New Testament, had these struggles, where does that leave us? What does it mean to be a Christian, if we are so consumed by sin? How much love must He have for us, that we are accepted as we are? We are a mess, yet through Him, we are blessed. Maya Angelou, in her poem "Christians," has found words much more eloquent than I could have written:

Christians - By Maya Angelou