The Seed was planted in the dust of this world.
The Seed died in and amongst the dust of this world.
The Seed that died in the dust of this world then was resurrected.
The Seed gave birth to more seed that grew and took on the
characteristics of the great Seed.
And together they yielded a harvest of everlasting fruit.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Buzz Buzz
The days have been getting nicer in Texas. A couple of days ago I opened up the front door and then went and opened the back French door so we could have some fresh air come into the house and as I was heading back to whatever I was doing a bumble bee came buzzing in through the front door. For a little guy he made a lot of noise.
I am not certain what his objective was but he soon decided this wasn’t the right place for him. There weren’t any flowers, freshly cut oranges on the kitchen counter but maybe if my wife was around he would have stuck around. She is pretty sweet.
Not wanting to hang with me it proceeded toward the back when it smacked into the side of the French door that was closed and did this fall to the ground and made this little buzzing sound like one of those little finger twist up toys. Buzzzz Buzzzz
In many ways it reminds me of how we can miss the mark. How we could miss the point. How we could miss the door and how we sometimes ignore the door to true freedom because of distractions or our stubbornness, or our current situation we find ourselves in at the moment, or even the restrictions and blinders we put on ourselves.
We too run into windows occasionally and we could run the risk of running into something that seems to lead to freedom but results in anguish, hurt, depression, lost hope, and even death.
Jesus says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.“ (John 10)
There are times where I have found dead bees in my house on the window seals. They died because they couldn’t find a way back outside. They stayed with something that looked like it led outside … like it led to a life but clearly halted the rest of their lives. It gave a light but wasn’t the light that led to life. It missed some important characteristics and if they were paying better attention, they could see this was no way out. Still in their stubbornness they continued to bump and buzz their way into the glass until they clasped from exhaustion and died.
Occasionally, I will take a plastic cup, and scoop a few of those exhausted bees into it and take them back outside. They all recover and soon go on their way, hopefully gaining some important insight. I believe God does that to us. He scoops us up after we have surrendered and are exhausted from bumping into those windows in life and sets us free. You see the closed and even the screened windows in life look like they lead to life but really they are only impostors. They aren’t the true door to life and freedom. Jesus is the way to freedom and new life.
Jesus says this, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
May God bless you with all he has for you,
Jeff
I am not certain what his objective was but he soon decided this wasn’t the right place for him. There weren’t any flowers, freshly cut oranges on the kitchen counter but maybe if my wife was around he would have stuck around. She is pretty sweet.
Not wanting to hang with me it proceeded toward the back when it smacked into the side of the French door that was closed and did this fall to the ground and made this little buzzing sound like one of those little finger twist up toys. Buzzzz Buzzzz
In many ways it reminds me of how we can miss the mark. How we could miss the point. How we could miss the door and how we sometimes ignore the door to true freedom because of distractions or our stubbornness, or our current situation we find ourselves in at the moment, or even the restrictions and blinders we put on ourselves.
We too run into windows occasionally and we could run the risk of running into something that seems to lead to freedom but results in anguish, hurt, depression, lost hope, and even death.
Jesus says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.“ (John 10)
There are times where I have found dead bees in my house on the window seals. They died because they couldn’t find a way back outside. They stayed with something that looked like it led outside … like it led to a life but clearly halted the rest of their lives. It gave a light but wasn’t the light that led to life. It missed some important characteristics and if they were paying better attention, they could see this was no way out. Still in their stubbornness they continued to bump and buzz their way into the glass until they clasped from exhaustion and died.
Occasionally, I will take a plastic cup, and scoop a few of those exhausted bees into it and take them back outside. They all recover and soon go on their way, hopefully gaining some important insight. I believe God does that to us. He scoops us up after we have surrendered and are exhausted from bumping into those windows in life and sets us free. You see the closed and even the screened windows in life look like they lead to life but really they are only impostors. They aren’t the true door to life and freedom. Jesus is the way to freedom and new life.
Jesus says this, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
May God bless you with all he has for you,
Jeff
Friday, March 14, 2008
It's Not about Mary: It's ALL about Jesus.
It’s not about Mary; it’s all about Jesus.
Why do I keep hearing this buzz of Mary?
Mary carried the seed of God who was Jesus.
We now carry and share that spiritual seed of Jesus with others.
Neither Mary nor we should have any credit for this for God chose us just as he chose Mary.
When the Holy Spirit is in you do you receive any credit for what it produces within you or others? Of course not!
Does Mary receive any credit for what was produced within her?
No! The Holy Spirit is responsible for Mary to become pregnant with Jesus Christ. Jesus receives the credit for doing the will of the Father.
Does Mary have anything to do with making us right with God through some kind of sacrifice?
No Jesus makes us right with God because he was blameless and the only holy sacrifice.
Does Mary have anything to do with resurrecting Jesus?
No! The Holy Spirit resurrected Jesus just has he will resurrect us and has given us new life, new sight, new perspective and a new heart.
Do we receive any credit for our resurrection or our new outlook in life? It is based on our faith in Jesus and Jesus alone. Jesus receives all the credit for saving our souls not us. Jesus receives all the glory for awakening us to this truth and new life.
Mary would be shaking her head in pity for those people who try to make her into some god of worship and so would any of the apostles. You kiss no statue nor do you worship it. You worship the one and true God.
Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.
Why do I keep hearing this buzz of Mary?
Mary carried the seed of God who was Jesus.
We now carry and share that spiritual seed of Jesus with others.
Neither Mary nor we should have any credit for this for God chose us just as he chose Mary.
When the Holy Spirit is in you do you receive any credit for what it produces within you or others? Of course not!
Does Mary receive any credit for what was produced within her?
No! The Holy Spirit is responsible for Mary to become pregnant with Jesus Christ. Jesus receives the credit for doing the will of the Father.
Does Mary have anything to do with making us right with God through some kind of sacrifice?
No Jesus makes us right with God because he was blameless and the only holy sacrifice.
Does Mary have anything to do with resurrecting Jesus?
No! The Holy Spirit resurrected Jesus just has he will resurrect us and has given us new life, new sight, new perspective and a new heart.
Do we receive any credit for our resurrection or our new outlook in life? It is based on our faith in Jesus and Jesus alone. Jesus receives all the credit for saving our souls not us. Jesus receives all the glory for awakening us to this truth and new life.
Mary would be shaking her head in pity for those people who try to make her into some god of worship and so would any of the apostles. You kiss no statue nor do you worship it. You worship the one and true God.
Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.
Friday, March 07, 2008
This Woman and This Man (Marriage)
This woman and this man show:
A will to grow and change together for their lifetime.
To make a song together.
To unwrap their dreams and the possibilities together.
To make a new standard in their life.
To be accountable to one another and God.
To become more intimate with the word commitment and what it means to cherish, hold, even in sickness and in health.
To know what it means to be blessed being soul mates, lovers and friends
Friends who will help remind one another each that they were never designed to carry heavy burdens and/or worries.
Lovers who will remind each other to forget the past and to look forward to what the future holds.
Soul mates who will show and be a model of unity in trial and in celebration to those who know and see them.
A unique couple, which will share all joys, achievements, failures, and simple pleasures and strive to understand one another’s sorrows and joys.
To figure out what is a compromise.
To forgive and makes allowances for one another’s faults and falls.
To understand why it’s always important to think pure, lovely and admirable thoughts of your spouse.
And finally to truly love which is patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, hopefulness, forgiveness, abiding, and yes even self-control.
A will to grow and change together for their lifetime.
To make a song together.
To unwrap their dreams and the possibilities together.
To make a new standard in their life.
To be accountable to one another and God.
To become more intimate with the word commitment and what it means to cherish, hold, even in sickness and in health.
To know what it means to be blessed being soul mates, lovers and friends
Friends who will help remind one another each that they were never designed to carry heavy burdens and/or worries.
Lovers who will remind each other to forget the past and to look forward to what the future holds.
Soul mates who will show and be a model of unity in trial and in celebration to those who know and see them.
A unique couple, which will share all joys, achievements, failures, and simple pleasures and strive to understand one another’s sorrows and joys.
To figure out what is a compromise.
To forgive and makes allowances for one another’s faults and falls.
To understand why it’s always important to think pure, lovely and admirable thoughts of your spouse.
And finally to truly love which is patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, hopefulness, forgiveness, abiding, and yes even self-control.
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