Wow! What a week this has been. Rangers are going to the World Series, Crisps had another child, and
I was reading in Psalms this week and of course it spoke to my heart. In the first chapter it give the key for happiness. "How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked... His delight is in the Lord's instruction." (vs 1-2)
I am so glad that our church is involved with Boldcourse. It is a great plan for letting God take control and "instruct" us. He will always be faithful and meet with us to give us His perfect instructions. You see the person who hears the word of the Lord and does not follow is like the wicked. They will be like the chaff and will be blown away with the wind. However, to be HAPPY, is to delight in the Lord's instruction AND meditate on it day and night.
As we close out this week and look back... were we happy? Were we following God's instruction? It is easy to get caught up in life's ebb and flow. But do we truly find the happiness that God has for us? It tends to be a facade and only lasts for a while. This week end and next week look back at the difference that being in God's word has made. List all of the things that made you happy before and then make a list f things that made you happy after being in God's Word.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
As you sip on your morning coffee...
...think about this. In class yesterday, people voiced prayer requests that concerned seeking God's direction in various aspects of their lives. Others in the class may have similar concerns that they kept private.
I like all kinds of Christian music; in my mind, there's no bad way to praise our Savior as long as the worship comes with a heart of adoration and in a sincere, repentant, and doctrinally sound spirit. But I admit having an affinity for the poetic magnificence of older hymns, such as the one we sang yesterday as a congregation.
I woke up this morning with such a hymn on my mind, and the hymn relates to seeking God's direction but refocuses us on what's of utmost importance (a couple of verses included):
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou my inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
In other words, as spoken by someone who knows our needs and desires quite well, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33.
Here's to all of us going through today while viewing our circumstances through that lens.
BP
I like all kinds of Christian music; in my mind, there's no bad way to praise our Savior as long as the worship comes with a heart of adoration and in a sincere, repentant, and doctrinally sound spirit. But I admit having an affinity for the poetic magnificence of older hymns, such as the one we sang yesterday as a congregation.
I woke up this morning with such a hymn on my mind, and the hymn relates to seeking God's direction but refocuses us on what's of utmost importance (a couple of verses included):
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou my inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
In other words, as spoken by someone who knows our needs and desires quite well, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33.
Here's to all of us going through today while viewing our circumstances through that lens.
BP
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Something To Think About
I was just thinking... since we have Monday as our designated Family
night Boldcourse, Tuesday is i2, and Wednesday is Power up/Activate,
this would mean that We have nothing on Thursday. So I'm designating
Blog night. What does that mean to you? Nothing. But you could read and
refer. Perhaps you know someone that needs a word of encouragement.
The past few weeks we have been studying the book of Job. I have to say no matter how many times I read it, I always get something new from it. I think that no one could ever really relate to this man. He had everything, lost everything, then gained it back sevenfold all at the expense of an interaction between God and satan. But wait... what was the real theme of the book of Job? Anyone? Anyone? YES!!! God is in control! Yes He will never allow anything to happen to us unless He wants it to. Even if it means we lose everything. But even if we lost everything, in the sense that we know, have we truly lost anything at all? After all if God allowed something like this to happen to one of us today did we really lose anything at all? I submit to you a resounding NO! We can not lose anything that is not ours. I hear a Huh? in the background.
We could get into the discussion about "Do we really 'own' anything at all?" Or, we could discuss that what we have that is worth anything is stored up in heaven where moth can not destroy or thieves can not steal.
My point and application:
If we trust that God is solely in charge then we can totally trust in Him.
I was reminded this afternoon about a place in Greece that I visited. It was a place to worship a Greek god named Pan. It was not like a temple or anything but instead it was a hillside that had no real order or organization to it. The worshippers did not really 'worship' but rather ran around as though they were confused or manic. They were in total 'Pan'damonium, and in 'pan'ic. They didn't know what to do? These are where we get our English words. They did this because something in their life happened and they were suffering some undeserved adversity.
You see we have a God of order and of organization. We can rest assured that God is in control and trust in Him. God received glory and honor in the book of Job. Job suffered horrific adversity only to bring the God who made everything by His word glory. How many times have we "suffered" and not realized that we have an opportunity to bring God glory. What a privilege!
Next time we find ourselves having a bad day or we are in the face of adversity, rest on the promise that we have from Job and not panic and run around in pandemonium.
P.S. Ever wonder where Peter PAN got his name? Perhaps?
The past few weeks we have been studying the book of Job. I have to say no matter how many times I read it, I always get something new from it. I think that no one could ever really relate to this man. He had everything, lost everything, then gained it back sevenfold all at the expense of an interaction between God and satan. But wait... what was the real theme of the book of Job? Anyone? Anyone? YES!!! God is in control! Yes He will never allow anything to happen to us unless He wants it to. Even if it means we lose everything. But even if we lost everything, in the sense that we know, have we truly lost anything at all? After all if God allowed something like this to happen to one of us today did we really lose anything at all? I submit to you a resounding NO! We can not lose anything that is not ours. I hear a Huh? in the background.
We could get into the discussion about "Do we really 'own' anything at all?" Or, we could discuss that what we have that is worth anything is stored up in heaven where moth can not destroy or thieves can not steal.
My point and application:
If we trust that God is solely in charge then we can totally trust in Him.
I was reminded this afternoon about a place in Greece that I visited. It was a place to worship a Greek god named Pan. It was not like a temple or anything but instead it was a hillside that had no real order or organization to it. The worshippers did not really 'worship' but rather ran around as though they were confused or manic. They were in total 'Pan'damonium, and in 'pan'ic. They didn't know what to do? These are where we get our English words. They did this because something in their life happened and they were suffering some undeserved adversity.
You see we have a God of order and of organization. We can rest assured that God is in control and trust in Him. God received glory and honor in the book of Job. Job suffered horrific adversity only to bring the God who made everything by His word glory. How many times have we "suffered" and not realized that we have an opportunity to bring God glory. What a privilege!
Next time we find ourselves having a bad day or we are in the face of adversity, rest on the promise that we have from Job and not panic and run around in pandemonium.
P.S. Ever wonder where Peter PAN got his name? Perhaps?
A thought for your lunch hour...
Someone I know, when asked how his day is going at work, commonly says, "It's another day in paradise." Recently, however, when asked the same question, he responded presciently, "It's another day closer to paradise."
Indeed, it is. Find joy in the fact that we're one day closer to seeing Jesus. We're getting a little closer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O4_qv359SY
Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
Have a great Thursday...
BP
Indeed, it is. Find joy in the fact that we're one day closer to seeing Jesus. We're getting a little closer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O4_qv359SY
Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
Have a great Thursday...
BP
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Welcome to the blog!
Welcome everyone to the blog for our Sunday School class! Three things:
(1) As you lead your families through this week and face inevitable challenges, remember the principles that we've learned from Job's story. God is good and merciful, and he has a plan for our lives and a desire to direct our paths even when we cannot understand his purpose in our circumstances. Find comfort in the fact that we worship a God who is powerful when we are powerless. He's always faithful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTLfQ05Otk0
(2) Prepare yourselves this week for our next class, in which we'll study portions of Song of Solomon and discuss how God wants us to have genuine, loving relationships.
(1) As you lead your families through this week and face inevitable challenges, remember the principles that we've learned from Job's story. God is good and merciful, and he has a plan for our lives and a desire to direct our paths even when we cannot understand his purpose in our circumstances. Find comfort in the fact that we worship a God who is powerful when we are powerless. He's always faithful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTLfQ05Otk0
(2) Prepare yourselves this week for our next class, in which we'll study portions of Song of Solomon and discuss how God wants us to have genuine, loving relationships.
(3) Don't forget about our class dinner/party, Saturday, October 29, at casa de Perry. We'll have more details soon, and we'd love to see everyone, plus kids, there!
Have a blessed week!
Bryce
Sunday, October 9, 2011
This is the first post from our Sunday School class.
Bookmark and join. When you invite someone or you come across someone who is searching for a class, refer them to here.
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