Very nicely done. You're so right that the day day stuff kind of throws us off. But when we remember His goodness toward us and His redemptive plan we are brought back to that place of praise.
WOW! That definitely hit me right between the eyes...something I have been sensing God telling me I need to do a lot here lately.
I really like what you had to say, brother in CHRIST!!!!!! You really hit the nail on the head. you have inspired me to start making time for CHRIST, no matter how busy I get. But, right now I am not that busy, and, I am going to set a time each day to spend some time with HIM, no matter if I feel like it or not. You have given me something to shoot for. Thank you, and, may your life be abundantly blessed from this day forward. GOD BLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey i just want to say thanks, i really needed that. I really need to be free and get away from programs and just general 'busyness'. Calm down. I am reminded of the Switchfoot song, Dare you to move, if you are familiar with it...
Ben, this is an awesome entry to your blog. The scripture you posted in the blog is spot on when we all go through trials and realize, as you did, they are for our growth. A form of growth IMO, is the shining up of our armor. I don't feel your shield (faith) got smaller, or had holes in it... ya just needed to have it shined back up.
Ben, that is so awesome...The Lord did not promise us that life would not be difficult. Just the opposite.. John 16:33-""I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." The thing I always try to remember is that we are being formed into the image of Christ daily. John 3:30-"He must increase, but I must decrease." I am learning that our trials are used to sometimes purge something out of us that the Lord doesn't want there..perhaps even our lack of faith. I recently had an attack from someone at church..and when it happened, my first thought was "put up your shield of faith!" My thoughts about what was happening immediately changed. It was amazing. Ben have you added that song to your song list? I'd love to hear you singing it.
And 25+ years down the road, you'll wonder where all the time went.....249 days seems like yesterday......
You will be in my prayers my friend
Amen to that, I have had that same thought, "Am I just talking to myself?" I already know I am no help, so talking to me won't do me any good, thats for sure. But I know what you are saying, you don't want prayer to be a formality, but you want it to be a conversation, a relationship. Me too!!!
I love Casting Crowns Thanks for posting
Very wise words.
There are much advantages about not having a tv...... you don't realize that until you don't have one anymore..... for instance, we have whole conversations under supper again instead of watching the tv....... and we got way more time for Biblestudy, not to mention that you don't have to pay the cable company anymore for your tv! If you want to know something, you can watch on the internet, like the Journaal..... it's all there online...... For me the news doesn't interest me too much, but that's because I live in my own small world because of my disease....... but I can understand that you do want to know, so you can watch the Journaal every night and know what's going on...... or subscribe to an American newsletter from the New York Times with the latest news........ so there are plenty of possibilities.... And you can put the money you don't pay for cable to buy movies on DVD...... there are so much on sale these days that you can buy quite a few for that money..... we are building up our collection very fast..... we have everything from Rowan Atkinson now (except the Mr. Bean tv collection and the first Bean movie which we don't like too much) and a lot of other movies, like a collection of Narnia with 3 movies in it from the British tv-series..... you can find good movies if you look for them, and you can play them on your pc...... We have a movienight regularly, and we love it! No commercial breaks and see what you want! And you can buy tv-series on DVD too...... Anyway, it's up to you and Ruth to decide..... but our life became much better after throwing the tv out and I don't miss it very much at all! Love you, Mieke
Mieke, that might just be an excellent idea. Now for Ruth to agree with me...
I did understand, and I agree with Benjamin...... I don't have a tv anymore (threw it out a year ago) so I don't have to watch it anymore either! Love you, Mieke
Thank you, Karen, thank you. I'm so glad indeed to have gotten it off my chest!
well though I understood not one word..I am so glad you were able to get it off your chest..lol!
I went to sleep last night wrestling with the same type thoughts or ponderings. To feel so far away from what I should be and even worse, do I really even understand what I should be, do I even have a clue? The one thing I do believe is that the only way to reach that goal, to run the race, is always self judgment by Jesus standards, even though that kinda smarts a bit. I think we have to become consumed with desire for Him. Prayer and the Word and the Word and prayer, I believe that is the only way to win the race. That is the narrow path and the only route to find our way. And I guess the race is to not give up, believing in our Hope even when we are struggling so much within ourselves to understand.
Ben, I agree with you. I've been feeling a bit like that as well. Do you know the movie Wizard of Oz? Well I feel like church is like the part in the movie where they fall asleep in the poppy field..the Kingdom is right there before their eyes and they are just too tired to get there. And too tired to be excited about it. We need for the church to wake up...we are in this world but we are not of it..though I wonder how many Christians today even realize that. It is so sad, but in my church? I feel like a minority of those who get truly excited about the Word of God...now that is sad.
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