Monthly Archives: November 2009

November 13, 2009

What Comsumes Your Thoughts?

By alexpenduck

When I read the bible I sometimes find it incredible that throughout the gospel accounts (the first four books of the New Testament) there were so many actions that Jesus did that either were prophesied in the Old testament or reminded people of a saying or phrase from the Old Testament.

One of these phrases is found in John 2:17. Jesus had just been on what I can only describe as a holy rampage! He had walked into the temple only find people buying and selling different things. This got Jesus mad because they had derailed from the purpose of why the temple was built (as a home for God to dwell). Instead of the temple being a  ‘holy’ place it had become a place of corruption and deceit!

After Jesus went on his holy rampage which included whipping the animals out of the place, turning over tables and emptying the cash registers onto the floor his disciples were reminded on a verse found in Psalm 69:9. This verse says, ‘Zeal for my house will consume me’.

Jesus was a man whose life and thoughts were consumed with the house of God, or the place of God. He realized the need for a place where God could dwell. I don’t think he was so mad about the physical temple, but about the hearts of the individuals buying and selling int he temple.

This zeal drove Jesus to do something beyond human comprehension, a sinless life and a sacrificial death. The great news for us is that very same zeal that was in Jesus desires to find a place in our hearts and minds. If we just embrace it and use it for the good of God then we can impact the world in a way that also will be beyond human comprehension.

So I ask you today, what is the thing that is consuming your thoughts? If it is the house of God or the place where God dwells you have in you the ability to change your world and the world around you for good!

1 comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christianity, Worship

November 11, 2009

A Different Perspective on Rules

By alexpenduck

I love the book of Psalms. It is one of the those books that I find myself wanting to read more and more each day. I’ll be honest some of the books in the bible are hard to digest one chapter at a time but the Psalms are refreshing for me.

The Psalms were basically songs that people in ancient Israel wrote to God. These were sung and played as people elected to use music to bring adoration and praise unto God. One of my all time favorite is Psalm 119. This is a beast of a Psalm. It has 176 verses or lines in it. it takes my about 15 minutes to read it. I couldn’t imagine trying to sing it. It is a good job they didn’t have pentecostal churches back then because they would have sung it once, repeated the chorus, then sang the verses through again, back to the chorus and then adding a bridge before singing the chorus another five times. They would have been their all day, and all night for that fact!

The reason I like Psalm 119 so much is because the guy who wrote it (it is unclear on who the exact author was) got what it means to follow God. So often in our faith we can feel restricted by the rules, regulations and commandments of God. People even refuse to live a life of faith because they think they have to give up all the pleasurable things in their lives.

However, in Psalm 119 we see a man expressing how he as fallen in love with God and the rules, regulations and the commandments of God. He says time and again through this huge Psalm that he loves the commandments of God. He writes how a man who follows the law of God is so blessed and he even goes on to say multiply times, ‘revive me according to your commandments’, basically saying, breath new life in me, but this time let my life be set on the foundation of your commandments.

The writer of Psalm 119 had a different perspective on the rules and laws of God. He realized it wasn’t there to restrict him, but they are put in place to protect him, preserve him and also to give him the freedom to live a life that is full of pleasure but not consequence.

So often we can view God as the Grinch! Instead of doing that, view God and his rules as a guideline and boundaries that will lead us into a life that is so incredible and awesome you’ll realize his law was for our long-term good and pleasure!

2 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in Christianity, Worship

November 9, 2009

Don’t Be Held Back!

By alexpenduck

I am someone who naturally works, leads and lives through my strengthens. By this I mean I know what I am strong at and I spend most of my energy concentrating on what I think I am good at. The things that I am not very good at or I believe I am weak in I either leave to someone else, or find someone who is strong in the area I am weak at to help me try to keep a standard of excellence and quality.

However, the problem with knowing your strengthens and leading out of your strengthens is that you want to shy away from your weaknesses and not address them. I have found the more I lead others the more my weaknesses are highlighted. The more I see how inadequate I am in a situation the more I want to bury my head in the sand and hope that it goes away.

I am discovering everyday that it is important to lead out of your strengthens but this does not mean you ignore your weaknesses. We all have weaknesses, but the people who are truly successful in life are the people who are willing to tackle situations and problems head on whether they are a weakness or a strength.

I have also discovered that some of my best moments and wins come as a result of my weaknesses. Let me explain. If you already don’t know, I am a Christian! Someone who follows and has devoted his life to following Jesus Christ. When I am weak it is at this time that I look to God, ask him for help and then let him work in my life so that I can handle problems that I feel I’m weak at solving. It is amazing, but very often the result is better than if I had been strong in that area and tried to do it myself.

The Apostle Paul had a similar situation. In 2 Corinthians 12:10 he said that he in fact delights in his weaknesses, because when he is weak that is when he is strong. He is strong because he has put his faith in God.

We all have weaknesses. Do not bury your head in the sand, do not worry when there are problems you can not solve. Look to God and don’t let your weaknesses hold you back, because it is at that moment you have the ability to become strong!

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