Thoughts

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
col. 3:1-3

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
phil. 4:8

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
rom. 13:14

ok, so i entered those verses above, and then sat staring at my monitor for about 5 minutes, pondering the sum of my thoughts. so it's time to jot down some of those thoughts. orginally i had thot about speaking of taking our thoughts captive (2 cor. 10:5). and how that is a powerful form of spiritual battle. how in the midst of our temptation struggles, we should force ourselves to think of Christ, and our death and resurrection in Him. (making it personal, i'm re-learning this stategy.)

then i jumped over to something i read the other day. a quote from chuck swindoll, "Life is 90 percent attitude and 10 percent what happens to you." the way we re-act to situations can change to direction of life.

then i jumped over to this series were are going thru with the jr. high at youth group. it's a study on the beattitudes. last weeks lesson was on being blessed when we are poor in spirit. i challenge you to ask a 6th grader what 'blessed' means. or ask them what "poor in spirit" means. you may be amazed at their definitions of these terms. i know i was.

so that's a brief tour thru my mind. random thoughts jumping from sermons to life experiences.

on a side note, irene has suggested this link. it's a bit disturbing - but very heartfelt. just warning there is some risque info on it. please read at your own risk.

Amazing Christ,
You perceive my thoughts; You know all about me. You're the One who searches me and knows me. i can't run or hide from You. nothing is hidden from Your site.

it still amazes me the way You use the Word to form truth in my life. as i turn to You for wisdom and guidance, You rain down Your righteousness in abundance. You fill my desires (ps. 145:16); You're my satisfier, my provider. so i give You my praise for hearing my prayers, for caring so lovingly, for carrying my burdens and healing my hurt. i love You so much, Father. thanks for being my Friend.

Father, You know all the concerns of my heart, and there are plenty. (new pastor and the flanders transition) (the family of dee and him beeson) (the frye's) (the visa situation and the china trip) (derrick) (ym of jumc) (ed's daughter) (recovery of jackie) (career path) (mission trip opportunity) (staff @ jumc) (hope's cruise and babysitting the kiddos) (SD trip?) oh so many others...

but all these are in Your care (and off my chest). i lay them down on Your altar. i can't change and heal and help any of these cares, but You can. You are able. and so i expect You to deal with them in Your incredible way of mercy and grace. thanks for letting me unbound my heart's desires to You.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen

*irene *tucker *isheanesu project

Struggling in Prayer

Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The man asked, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
Gen. 32:26-29

Jacob must have had bad blood with his brother, Esau. if you read a few verses earlier in teh chapter, Jacob was down on his knees - crying out for mercy, because he feared his brother was going to kill him and all his people. on his knees, jacob took God at his Word and stated that God had promised, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.' (gen 32:12) seems like a crisis of belief...

and then comes along the visitor of the night. Jacob and this stranger duke it out all night. finally it's daybreak, and the stranger wants to quit. (enter my questioning mind!) i wonder why ...the stranger wanted to quit when it becomes light? ...jacob was so eager to be blessed by this fighter? ...the stranger need to know jacob's name in order to change it. ...and i wonder how life would have been for a man named "struggles with God."? how would you like that name -'struggles with God'? seems a bit brash to me, but whatever, i guess.

and as it turns out - Jacob got the stranger's blessing...and an embrace by his brother. the prayer of jacob was answered in abundance.

Jesus,
i know You were the Stranger. Jacob called on Your Name and sought Your protection. and for some reason You blessed him in more ways than he could have asked for. and i know You do the same for me, and for this i'm grateful.

Your mercy is abundantly, new every day. thanks for carrying me in your hands, and for allowing me to dig deeper into our relationship. You are an amazing God, and You are trustworthy. so i place my trust in You, expecting You to supply my needs and heart's desire.

i have some friends who are struggling in relationships. may You grant them courage to speak their minds in a spirit of love and forgiveness. may You soften their hearts. please let them experience You thru their relationships with others. thanks for knowing us completely and for continuing to stretch us in different directions. life with You is not boring.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen.

*Kimberly *Denise *Jennifer

What's Stupid?

Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.
prov. 18:13

Wise thinking leads to right living; Stupid thinking leads to wrong living.
eccl. 10:2

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
psalm 119:9

after youth group last night, i took some time to catch up on some proverbs. man, there is some good stuff in the Word of God! like this one, "The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard; fools look for it everywhere but right here." (Prov. 17:24) i could go on and on about my reading last night, but you could read a few chapters of Proverbs, and you'll probably feel the same way.

so i have this habit of filling in people's sentences. i guess i get bored when people speak slowly and they don't get out what they are trying to say. but i've been feeling some conviction about this. laid on my heart have been two scriptures about this: prov. 18:13 (see above), and 1 cor. 13 (about what it means to love). if love is patient than it is not impatient. and so rushing people to get out what they are saying is not love. ...and so back to Jesus i return.

Christ,
You always seem to get my attention in the most odd ways...but i love it! thanks for being outside the box with me. thanks for knowing me completely and yet You still love me. that is amazing! i praise You for being the Christ, for suffering the abuse of men so that i may have a way to re-connect with You in a very personal way.

You know my short comings. You know how impatient i can get. so i lay this struggle down at Your feet. on the cross You conquered this sin, and covered it with Your sacrificial blood. there's nothing i can do to make myself more clean than what You've accomplished in the act of death on the cross and resurrection into Heaven. You've finished the work. and so i ask for You to rise up within me, creating a way for me to overcome this impatience. it's no longer my struggle; it's all Yours. be praised for rescuing me from the chains of sin. ony thru You am i more than a conqueror.

in Christ's name ~ Amen.

*Mitchell *Savannah *Courtney