The Sweetest Frame

I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing when you are convicted by your own sermon. Today we were looking at our passion for knowing Christ and living a life that reflects the glory of God. It seems easy for me to get side tracked. I don't know how effective I will be, but I'd like to do more creating and reflecting and less consuming. Life is too short spend it watching re-runs. :) What do you do to help keep yourself from wasting time on insignificant things?

Some times I find myself frustrated with the pace of our new ministry. Today, I took part in the funeral of a dear friend, Dale Donoho. Dale was a great encouragement to me. I felt today that I actually helped some people, I comforted them in their time of grief. I also enjoyed so much seeing the church minister to Dale's wife, Judy and the rest of the family. It felt significant. On my drive home tonight I was reflecting about the day, and realized something. In my time at Calvary, I was part of both Dale's Mom and Dad's funeral. I was also a part of both Judy's Mom and Dad's funeral. This stuff didn't happen overnight, not even in a couple of years. It was years of friendships, and prayer, and doing life together, that helped this moment today feel so significant. My brother gave me some great advice tonight. He said - you shouldn't compare the end of your last ministry with the beginning of a new one. It takes time.

This scripture in Zechariah reminded me of this song by Jesus Culture... Zechariah 8:14 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Just as I determined to punish you When your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ Says the Lord of hosts, ‘ And I would not relent, 15 So again in these days I am determined to do good To Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear. The Lord would not relent, because of their sin, but He would also return grace in a relentless way because of His great love. This song expresses incredible passion. Listen closely at 5:03: "I don't want talk about you like your not in the room... Want to look right at you, want sing right to you." The Lord is not relenting in His pursuit of you, will you relent in your pursuit of Him?

It's been very quiet on this blog for a long time, but I think it's about to be resurrected. No long post here tonight, just thankful for Psalm 33. 1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. 2 Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. 3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. 4 For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. 5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. 6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. 10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the LORD stand fir...