Today our family celebrates the birthday of a very special person.
Happy birthday Brenda.
You are one amazing gift to us all.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
24
Jack Bauer and 24 is a big hit right now because the new season has just started this week.
The show is broken into 24 hour periods. Just like our lives, we only have each day to live and make every minute count.
In How to Spend a Day in Prayer, Lorne Sanny give us some practical tips on how to utilize your day with the Lord.
Scheduling your time
Divide the time into three parts:
1. Wait on the Lord-to realize His presence, to be cleansed, and to worship Him.
2. Pray for others. Ask specific things for them. Use Paul’s prayers in the New Testament to pray for them, and pray for them what you are praying for yourself.
3. Pray for yourself. Be totally honest with God, and yet not too introspective. (In many cases, a person will do better to pray for himself before praying for others.) As Lorne Sanny said, “You will end the day worse than you started if all you do is think of yourself and your own problems.”
That really covers it all. Our walk with God, our walk with others and our walk with ourselves each day.
Each morning is a great time to reflect on how God has given us everything we need for that day.
Jesus tells us how important it is to focus on today and let tomorrow take care of itself when he tells us in Matthew 6:34 “So never worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
remember:
TODAY IS ALL YOU HAVE.
TODAY IS ALL YOU NEED.
And TODAY IS ALL YOU CAN HANDLE.
Have a great day!
TATOO
Some time ago a newspaper in Tacoma, Wash., carried the story of Tattoo, the basset hound. Tattoo didn’t intend to go for an evening run, but when his owner shut his leash in the car door and took off with Tattoo still outside the vehicle, he had no choice. Motorcycle officer Terry Filbert noticed a passing vehicle with something that appeared to be dragging behind it. As he passed the car, he saw the object was a basset hound on a leash. “He was picking them up and putting them down as fast as he could,” said Filbert. He chased the car to a stop, and Tattoo was rescued — but not before the dog reached a speed of 20-30 mph and rolled over several times. The dog was fine but asked not to go out for an evening walk for a long time.
There are too many of us whose days are marked by “picking them up and putting them down as fast as we can.” Too many people spend their days running trying to catch up like TATTOO.
Did you know that Jesus was a very busy person too?
Growing up, the mental image I had of Jesus was that of him sitting around all day teaching his disciples and occasionally doing a miracle or two. However, a careful study of the Gospels will reveal that there were constant demands on his time.
Statements like “master all men seek thee”.
In fact in Mark 6:31 the bible says of Jesus and his disciples, “there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.”
As you read about the life of Christ you notice something. Jesus was often BUSY, yet never in a HURRY.
We are in day 15 of our 21 day Daniel fast and I want to include not just abstaining from certain foods but as well abstain from a certain way of life. It is my goal to focus in on personal quiet time with God and not let our culture direct how I live and who I am.
A quiet time each day with God is the best possible way way to do that.
Quiet time is a place where we stop and …SEE HOW BIG OUR GOD IS AND SEE HOW SMALL OUR PROBLEMS ARE.
WHEN YOUR VISION GOES INTO OVERTIME
Sometimes our vision seems to linger in the waiting room for too long. When I am feeling like the wait is unbearable I’ve got to lean on the old biblical term called “perseverance”.
I like what Bob Gass says about perseverance.
Perseverance means:
1. Succeeding because you’re determined to, not because you’re entitled to.
Achievers don’t sit back and wait for success because they think the world ‘owes them.’ No, if you’re wise you’ll ask God for direction, stand firm on the word He has given you, go forward and refuse to quit. You must adopt the attitude of the man who said, ‘We are determined to win. We’ll fight them until hell freezes over, and if we have to, we’ll fight them on ice.’ Recalling the trials he’d faced, Paul said: ‘”I started, and I’m going to finish. I’ve worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death’s door…And that’s not the half of it”‘ (2 Corinthians 11:23-28 TM). One word describes Paul; relentless.
2. Recognizing that life is not one long race, but many short ones in succession.
Each task has its own challenges and each day its own events. You have to get out of bed the next morning and run again, but it’s never exactly the same race. To be successful you must keep plugging away. It’s said that Columbus faced incredible difficulties while sailing west in search of a passage to Asia. He encountered storms, experienced hunger, deprivation and extreme discouragement. The crews of his three ships were near mutiny. But his account of the journey says the same thing over and over: “Today, we sailed on.” And his perseverance paid off. He didn’t discover a fast route to the spice-rich Indies; instead he found new continents. The scriptural key to success is running the race each day (Hebrews 12:1-2). So, this year; persevere.
Last week during an NFL playoff Game Brenda and I watched the San Deigo Chargers play Paton Manning and the Colts in a game that went into “sudden death” overtime with 17 – 17 tied up game. As the teams came out the play in overtime, John Madden said as he was commentating the game something I think anyone in leadership can use when it seems like your vision is in “sudden death overtime”.
John said that “Phillip Rivers is a seasoned quarter back and he knows that in situations like this he has to do four things:
1. DON’T HURRY.
2. STAY CALM.
3. DON’T FORCE ANYTHING.
4. DON’T DO ANYTHING STUPID.”
What great advice to anyone who feels the pressure of a “vision in overtime.”
By the way, Philip Rivers drove his team down the field and Darren Sprouls the “lightening bug” ran in for the winning touchdown.
“We will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 NIV
DELAY IS NOT DENILE
Destiny delayed is the devils delight
God-sized Dreams
One of the best barometers of spiritual maturity is the size of your dreams! I can accurately estimate the size of your faith by the size of your dream. You can’t be filled with the Spirit and not be filled with God-given dreams! Acts 2:17 says, “I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions and your old men with dream dreams.” Seeing visions and dreaming dreams is a byproduct of being filled with God’s spirit. The more the Spirit the bigger the dreams!
We don’t often think of him in these terms, but Jesus was the quintessential dreamer. No one dreamed bigger dreams than Jesus! He said, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” To appreciate the scope of that dream you have to understand that at that juncture in history, the average person never traveled outside a thirty-five mile radius of their home! And Jesus told twelve relatively poor and uneducated disciples who lived in the middle of nowhere to take the gospel to the ends of the earth! The Great Commission is the biggest dream ever dreamed. I think the size of the dream can only be explained by the fact that Jesus “had the Spirit without limit.” The only limit to how big your dreams are is how full of the Holy Spirit you are. If you’re filled with the Spirit you’ll dream God-sized dreams!
In his book, the vision and the vow, Pete Greig says, “When a vision comes to us not as human aspiration, but as divine revelation – then the whole equation changes.” Human aspirations eventually asphyxiate. There is no spirit to sustain them so they run out of ruach or breath. Greig says, “When a vision is born in the pride of a prayer-less imagination, it is nothing more than a projection of the self.” I don’t put much stock in dreams that are born out of prayerlock, but never underestimate a dream conceived by the Holy Spirit in prayer!
There are four main bones in every organization.
The wish-bones: Wishing somebody would do something about the problem.
The jaw-bones: Doing all the talking but very little else.
The knuckle-bones: Those who knock everything.
The back-bones: Those who carry the brunt of the load and do most of the work.
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
FRESH AIR!
It was really nice to get out and play in the snow today after leaving the office .
As long as you wear the right layers you are good when it is cold in Prescott.
Here a couple of pics of my ABSOLUTE FAVORTIE place on the planet.
At an elevation of around 6000 feet the basin does get some frozen h20.
The air in Prescott is amazing and it would be “missing the mark” not to breath it in fully.
21 DAY FASTING RESOURCE
It is now day two of our 21 day fast. By now many are asking…..”what in the world can I eat?”
Here is another great resource of recipes for the Daniel fast.
http://danielfast.wordpress.com/2009/01/03/daniel-fast-recipes-3/
Hope you are enjoying this journey.
“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” Daniel 10:2, 3
FASTING – DAY ONE
Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and besought our God for this, and He heard our entreaty.
Fasting is a great way to start out the year and here is why.
FASTING IS A TIME TO DO A CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP!
FASTING IS A TIME TO SEE WHERE OUR HEART IS …WHERE OUR HEAD IS!
REFLECTION, RE-ADJUSTMENT,RE ALIGNMENT WITH GOD’S PURPOSE AND PROCESS
Here are some reasons to consider a fast.
1. Fasting reveals what CONTROLS US.
2. Fasting reminds us to not bow to our CONSUMER CULTURE..
3. Fasting can help you not to be ruled by RECESSION.
4. Fasting will help in a CRUCIAL TURNING POINT.
5. Fasting can give you clarity for your VISION.
6. Fasting can bring DELIVERANCE .
7. Fasting can bring change to your FAMILY.
The no coffee headache is just something I will have to deal with.
I am Reading through the bible again this year and Genesis 16 through 18 was awesome this morning.
Here is a schedule for reading the entire Bible this year. It even includes choices for the plans, and you can pick from a whole bunch of translations. Here is a plan you can read on your cell phone.
I’m Looking forward to day two.
21 DAY DANIEL FAST -Part 3
GUIDELINES FOR DANIEL FAST
(Foods We May Eat)
Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley
Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas
Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantelope, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Rasberries, Strawberries, Tangeloes, Tangerines, Watermelon
Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Gingerroot, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts
Liquids: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% All-Natural Fruit Juices, 100% All Natural Vegetable Juices
(Foods to Avoid)
Meat
White Rice
Fried Foods
Caffeine
Carbonated Beverages
Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives
Refined Sugar
Sugar Substitutes
White Flour and All Products Using It
Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products
Brenda and I have been amazed to see what God has done in our lives over the years through fasting and prayer. We can only imagine what He has in store for us over the next few weeks and the year ahead, not only for our family, but for your family and our church.
21 DAY DANIEL FAST – Part 2
Faith is foundational to the Daniel Fast. STEP FOUR: PRAY TO PERCEIVE SIN’S ROLE IN POOR HEALTH –
Notice James 5:13-16:
• Sin is something related to the cause of sickness.
• Lack of health/healing may be the result of spiritual rebellion.
• Lack of health/healing may be due to sin of wrong intake, i.e. drugs, pornography.
• Repentance is linked to health according to James.
• Elders have a role in healing both spiritual and physical health.
• Sick people must desire to be well
• The anointing oil could mean
1. medicine for healing,
2. symbolic of the Holy Spirit, or
3. it could be baptism
• Prayer alone may not gain healing, faith is the major factor.
• In Greek there are several words for “sick”. James uses “Kanino”, which not only includes disease, but also means weak or weary.
• Attitude is important. James said, “are there any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”
STEP FIVE: FAST AS A STATEMENT OF FAITH TO OTHERS
Daniel was making a statement of faith when he asked for only vegetables to eat and water to drink, then dared the overseer to compare the appearance of the four sons of Israel with the young men who ate the king’s food.
STEP SIX: LEARN THE EFFECTS OF THE FOOD YOU EAT
Why are some foods good for us, and other foods not? What does certain food do to your body? If we really knew, there would likely be some things we would never eat again.STEP SEVEN: YIELD ALL RESULTS TO GOD
Daniel said, “as you see fit, deal with your servants” (Dan. 1:13).
REMEMBER:
• The Daniel Fast will lead to spiritual insight. “to those four young men God gave knowledge”.
• The Daniel Fast is longer than one day. These young men fasted for ten days.
• The Daniel Fast is a partial fast. They ate, but only vegetables and water.
• The Daniel Fast requires abstinence from party or junk foods.
• There is no indication that they ever began to eat the king’s food.
stevelummer.com 