...but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" He said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord- has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!"
- Luke 2:10-11, NLT
What a day and what a Savior, coming to take away all our burdens and sins. Preacher said today that he came to take every embarassment, every failure, every sin, and every other way you don't measure up. He loves me and he loves you! What more can I do than give him all of me? Isaiah 6:8 and a great song by downhere say it best: "here I am. Lord send me! All my life I make an offering..."
Merry Christmas!
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Sow Hope- not despair..
I'm a teacher. A first year teacher. A first year teacher in a low income area public school teaching 100 13 year olds 8th grade math.
It is as difficult. It requires a great deal of prayer. In addition to praying, it requires a great deal of patience and remembering that God has a good reason for putting me where He has. It also takes a whole lot of remembering that all kids can learn and that they all are somebody's little boy or girl, and that they are just kids.
All that being said- every morning during the moment of silence, I pray for God to work through me to spread hope, not despair, and that He will be with me and guide me all day. That's what I want to do in my blog and all other parts of my life as well- spread hope.
Galatians 6:7 says "...whatever one sows, that will he also reap." So many verses talk about sowing and reaping. I want to sow hope. Not just for my benefit, but to bring glory to God and make everyone a little happier and a little better off.
What are you sowing?
It is as difficult. It requires a great deal of prayer. In addition to praying, it requires a great deal of patience and remembering that God has a good reason for putting me where He has. It also takes a whole lot of remembering that all kids can learn and that they all are somebody's little boy or girl, and that they are just kids.
All that being said- every morning during the moment of silence, I pray for God to work through me to spread hope, not despair, and that He will be with me and guide me all day. That's what I want to do in my blog and all other parts of my life as well- spread hope.
Galatians 6:7 says "...whatever one sows, that will he also reap." So many verses talk about sowing and reaping. I want to sow hope. Not just for my benefit, but to bring glory to God and make everyone a little happier and a little better off.
What are you sowing?
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Good Deeds
"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone-- especially those in the family of faith."
-Galatians 6:9-10 (NLT)
We aren't saved by works. We are saved by grace. But that does not excuse us from doing the good works. The grace, the faith, the love of the Lord should lead us to the good deeds. I think too many people get confused about the order of these things- making some think that they don't have to have the faith, so they just do the good deeds, and making others afraid to say that once you have the faith, you still have to do the good deeds. Good deeds can lead people to God- "Preach the Gospel always; when necessary, use words."
If we show others that we love them and God loves them because we're out there in the world helping them (feeding them, clothing them, teaching them, providing shelter..) how powerful is that? I've never experienced homelessness or hunger, but I imagine that all the words in the world wouldn't make you feel better in those situations. A new house from Habitat for Humanity or a solid meal- that is what makes an impact.
As Jesus told us- "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39, NLT).
Loving our neighbors must include doing good things for them when we have the opportunity. Which brings us back to Galatians and helping those around us. We are all God's children, so we should help anyone and everyone we see. How can I make someone's life easier, happier, or better today?
-Galatians 6:9-10 (NLT)
We aren't saved by works. We are saved by grace. But that does not excuse us from doing the good works. The grace, the faith, the love of the Lord should lead us to the good deeds. I think too many people get confused about the order of these things- making some think that they don't have to have the faith, so they just do the good deeds, and making others afraid to say that once you have the faith, you still have to do the good deeds. Good deeds can lead people to God- "Preach the Gospel always; when necessary, use words."
If we show others that we love them and God loves them because we're out there in the world helping them (feeding them, clothing them, teaching them, providing shelter..) how powerful is that? I've never experienced homelessness or hunger, but I imagine that all the words in the world wouldn't make you feel better in those situations. A new house from Habitat for Humanity or a solid meal- that is what makes an impact.
As Jesus told us- "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39, NLT).
Loving our neighbors must include doing good things for them when we have the opportunity. Which brings us back to Galatians and helping those around us. We are all God's children, so we should help anyone and everyone we see. How can I make someone's life easier, happier, or better today?
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