My office is a wreck because we’re doing some remodeling, so I can’t find a book that I wanted to quote. But the gist of it was one of the Founding Fathers saying that on the 4th there should be fireworks, gunshots, sports games, cannons, church bells and about any other way of celebrating our independence.
What goes off in my mind is Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture. I love the cannons and the church bells…gives me goose bumps.
Peace
Jim
Click on the link below for Faith Night at the Nashville Sounds.
I listened to a reading of the Declaration of Independence on NPR this morning. You can feel the tension, nervousness, fear, and at the same time the joy in the words of Thomas Jefferson as he penned the charges against the king and the rights of the people to oppose. Makes one feel proud to be a citizen of these United States.
Freedom is a good thing. As Americans we claim our right to freedom and are quick to live those rights. As Christians we have freedom in Christ, and we are not so quick to live those rights. We can think of all sorts of do’s and don’ts that Christians put up as laws and regulations to the Christian life, and all the time Jesus simply said to “Follow Me.” Yes, I know that there are all sorts of implications to the short sentence “Follow Me,” but the simplicity of it says something to me.
In our secular life we don’t get it right all the time so why would we think that in our Christian life we should get it right all the time? That is not a cop out for making sin O.K. its just that as humans we are flawed and prone to want to “do it our way.” As Christians we’re to stick close to Jesus (John 8:31) and we’ll know the truth…and the truth will set us free.
Freedom in Christ, a good thought for Independence Day.
Freedom
Jim
I just built a fire and threw in the new (old) cornbread skillet that my sweetie bought me. Heated it up till red hot, now let it cool down, then season it in the oven at 250 degrees with some good ole bacon grease – don’t have any lard but bacon grease does the same thing.
Hot fire
New (old) skillet
Umm Umm
Jim
In Psalm 27:14 David says:
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (NRSV)
How hard it is to wait when we feel the urge to go.
I’ve been reminded of the need to consult with God before I go. What that means is before I spend time worrying, before I spend time fretting, before most anything actually, it is best to wait for the Lord, to allow some time to consult with God, and then allow God to go ahead of me.
Peace
Jim
I am reading Mark Batterson’s next book entitled “Wild Goose Chase.” You can feel the adrenaline rush just reading his book.
With the idea of adventure in mind, think spiritual adventure. What can we do for Jesus that causes our heart to beat quickly?
Peace
Jim
Helen Keller said:
“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”
Adventure doesn’t have to be mountain climbing or skydiving. Adventure can be doing something different than the normal. Adventure to me is doing something that raises my heart beat. I have an adventure each week of some sort.
All of us can be adventuresome, it doesn’t matter our age or physical condition; remember that Helen Keller was blind and deaf. Just think of what our life can be when we realize that our limitations are largely in our mind.
Adventure
Biggest adventure of the month
Peace
Jim
In Psalm 26:2 David prayed:
“Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.” (New Living Translation)
On a fairly regular basis it would be to our credit to take a look at our motives. Why do we do some of the things we do? Are we acting out of love or are we trying to please people, or are we working on some goal…are we charging out on some martyr’s mission? I know we have good intentions, but we need to make sure that what drives us is our love for God.
Sometimes people act with agenda’s in mind, and if we have any other agenda than pleasing God, we’re missing the point.
Peace
Jim
Trying to think this morning but not doing so very well. Late night last night and slept in this morning. I think I’ll just listen today.
Peace
Jim
Psalm 29 speaks of the power of the voice of God. It is the voice of God that can give strength and peace to his people (verse 11).
The voice of God can come through awesome experiences such as Isaiah experienced (Isaiah 6:1-8). And the voice of God can come through the still small sound of a gentle whisper (I Kings 19:12).
What that tells me is that whatever strength we need, whatever peace that we seek…is found through listening for God to speak.
Listen
Jim
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