Posts Tagged ‘ simple man of God ’

Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 08/18/2013

Teach your mind to worship in all wisdom by reading thoughts at Proverbial Thought!

Last week the poem looked at glorifying God by responding in faith to the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ.

How, then, do we continue to glorify God with our lives?

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
John 15:7-9, NIV

teach me to worship teach me to worship show me what it means to live a dedicated life to live a life of praise teach me to honor You show me how to sing to go into the world and share Your Great Name how can i worship how can i praise how can i honor Your Holy Name You have told us to love You have said not to hate be kind to everyone as an act of praise

teach me to worship

teach me to worship
show me what it means
to live a dedicated life
to live a life of praise
teach me to honor You
show me how to sing
to go into the world
and share Your Great Name
how can i worship
how can i praise
how can i honor
Your Holy Name
You have told us to love
You have said not to hate
be kind to everyone
as an act of praise

2013
08/18
POSTED BY
CATEGORY
Poetry
Worship
TAGS





Leave a comment

The Acts of the Doctor (Who)

Get some of that old-fashioned wisdom at Proverbial Thought!

I am a fan of Doctor Who. That means I am a Whovian.

I enjoy the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, and Doctor Who covers that in spades (and probably has or will literally).Doctor Who Matt Smith

I have found several devotionals based on Doctor Who, with a common theme of the Doctor as a Christ-like figure and his companions as disciples. There are a few which put the Doctor in a different role, biblically speaking, and within all of these there are times when our circumstances are compared to his and with the Bible.

This is one of those odd-ducks in which I deviate from the Christ-likeness.

Apostle to the World

If I were to compare the Doctor to anyone, it would be the Apostle Paul. Here is why:

The Doctor is a Time Lord who comes from the planet Gallifrey, so he is an alien to Earth. He is not the one who controls time. He is often used by Time to help good win.

He has two hearts, is very clever, and he travels around in a T.A.R.D.I.S. – Time And Relative Dimensions In Space – through all of time and space and occasionally outside. He usually has one, two, or several companions who travel with him (usually from Earth, but not always), whom it is very clear (at least if you pay attention, sometimes) he loves dearly. And he has a sonic screwdriver which helps him get out of and into sticky situations.

The Doctor has a knack for showing people the truth behind circumstances, and he saves the world (and the universe) on a regular basis.

One of the more amazing things about the Doctor is the way he and the Time Lords can escape death: regeneration into a new body.

Now consider Paul:

He was a Jew who was called to preach the Gospel (the truth of Jesus Christ) to the Gentile world (Acts 9:15, Romans 15:15-16).

He had many disciples which he left in cities to lead the church, some of them Jews and some Gentiles. With the help of the Holy Spirit he was saved or revived from sticky situations and helped many people or the glory of God.

All of this was possible because his heart was regenerated by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:22-24) (you could argue he, and we as Christians, have two hearts as evidenced by our sinful desires and a new desire for God). We also have the promise of regenerated bodies at the end of the age (2 Corinthians 5).

Paul is not God, but he was used by God to help win over hearts and minds.

I say all this just to say …

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “test everything. Hold onto what is good.” (Technically speaking about prophecy, but it is so applicable in our world.)

It is just as Paul used the pagan god statues in Rome to witness for Christ, or God using secular (non-Christian) songs to pull someone closer to Himself (such as Backstreet Boys’ “As Long As You Love Me” helping me realize my deep need for unconditional, perfect love).

I also really like G. K. Chesterton’s quote:

“Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”

I enjoy Doctor Who, and other works of Sci-Fi/Fantasy, because they remind us of who we are, who are meant to be, and that we can and should be more than we are.

What is your inspiration? What is your passion in life that moves you?

Mine is God and the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ, but Doctor Who reminds me of that!

2013
08/13
POSTED BY
CATEGORY
Apologetics
Doctor Who
Lifestyle
TAGS








Leave a comment

Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 08/11/2013

Accept the truth that you need more wisdom, and go read the proverbial commentary at Proverbial Thought!

There are two groups in this world:

  1. Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
  2. Those who do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

Within the first group there are subgroups which define a response to Jesus:

  1. Those who ignore Jesus.
  2. Those who hate Jesus.
  3. Those who love Jesus.

There can be subgroups for each of these, but the focus of the poem today is an explanation of that last group.

accept and respond

i heard the Good News

i looked at the facts

i know it was true

i accepted Jesus

my mental decision

brought in a choice

be a new person

or just say i know Jesus

this life can be hard

and not seem very just

i will take up my part

and respond to Jesus

i accept this truth

i will do what i must

i have to share with you

because i responded to Jesus

2013
08/11
POSTED BY
CATEGORY
Jesus
Love
Poetry
TAGS









Leave a comment

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

Become skilled at wisdom, and head over to Proverbial Thought!

I am not sure where this came from, but I found it in a daily devotional from Bill Keller.

May it speak to you, and may it spark something inside you that pushes you into loving service of our God and King!

I will let it speak for itself!

Author Unknown

“I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I  have stepped over the line. The decision has been made.

I’m a disciple of His and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away,  or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure.

I’m done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth  knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and  dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or  popularity.

I don’t have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or  rewarded.

I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and  labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven.

My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is  reliable and my mission is clear.

I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back,  deluded or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of  the adversary.

I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of  popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up,  prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus!

I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He does come for His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My  colors will be clear!”

2013
08/06
POSTED BY
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Submission
TAGS







Leave a comment

Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 08/04/2013

Remember to get your daily dose of wisdom from Proverbial Thought!

About a month ago I wrote … an open letter to the Western Church.

When I wrote this poem, I was beginning to see how some of the teachers I was following were distorting the gospel of Christ. They made rules not found in the Bible or took supposing or contextual promises from the Bible, and they presented these as the truth.

Many of these were “Prosperity Gospel” teachers. Some of them were rogue teachers with no affiliation to any denomination or particular creed.

Sadly, I found many of these teachings floating throughout much of the Church in America as I travelled across it that year.

(Thankfully, I have found many solid teachers, those who are not ashamed to admit they might be wrong yet humble enough to trust those who have come before in Church history!)

It was also around this time I read Isaiah 28 …

 

woe to the church (Isaiah 28)

do and do

do and do

rule on rule

rule on rule

a little here

a little there

our priests and preachers

cause many to stumble

they become injured

captured in sin and snared

you preach of victory

you have talked with death

nothing can harm you

death would never dare

for you made a lie a haven

in your agreement with hell

you have taken falsehood

and made it your lair

 

it is time

it is time

enough is enough

no more of this

a call to fight

a call to prayer

life has left the church

but our Lord is earnest

He has not forgotten

He knows our despair

return to the King

return to our Savior

repent of all the lies

give up all earthly cares

return to our Lord

give to Him our lives

those who return to God

their souls will be spared

2013
08/04
POSTED BY
CATEGORY
Church
Poetry
Rebuke
TAGS






Leave a comment

Build Your Kingdom Here

Learn the wisdom of the Kingdom by reading some thoughts at Proverbial Thought.

I am on a role with these song-inspired posts, as of late, so here is another.

The Kingdom of God Is Near

Prayer is certainly important in the life of a Christian, as discussed last week.

Jesus taught us to pray:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation
    but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:9-13, NIV

Perhaps the reason we fail to see revival and change in our society is because we do not really pray for “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Sure, we say the words, but how often do we mean it?

A chapter earlier, Jesus says:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.“
Matthew 5:13-16, NIV

Perhaps we do not see revival and change in our society, because we have not really asked our Father to change us through His Holy Spirit to be His salt and light in our world. We have a tendency to think God will just change all of their hearts without our intervention.

I could go on and on, but I think the Rend Collective Experiment sang it out best in this prayer to song:

Build Your Kingdom Here

Come set Your rule and reign
In our hearts again
Increase in us we pray
Unveil why we’re made
Come set our hearts ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls
Holy Spirit come invade us now
We are Your Church
We need Your power
In us

We seek Your kingdom first
We hunger and we thirst
Refuse to waste our lives
For You’re our joy and prize
To see the captive hearts released
The hurt; the sick; the poor at peace
We lay down our lives for Heaven’s cause
We are Your church
We pray revive
This earth

Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here
We pray

Unleash Your kingdom’s power
Reaching the near and far
No force of hell can stop
Your beauty changing hearts
You made us for much more than this
Awake the kingdom seed in us
Fill us with the strength and love of Christ
We are Your church
We are the hope
On earth

2013
07/30
POSTED BY
CATEGORY
Church
Hands and feet
Music
Prayer
The Lord's Prayer
TAGS









2 comments

Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 07/28/2013

Find a quiet place and read from Proverbial Thought.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 5:16

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.[a]” [“by prayer and fasting”]
Mark 9:25-29

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:6

lonely places

 

we often ask for more
we seek the power of Christ
but are we seeking from the floor
do we find lonely places

we want our God to be proud
we want to serve our King
but are we always somewhere loud
do we go to the lonely places

the disciples could not cast out
demons did not move at the name of Jesus
they asked what that was about
they did not often find lonely places

Jesus was close to the Father
He often went somewhere to pray
why did He always have the power
He often would go to lonely places

how can we have the power of Christ
and move in His Holy Spirit
we need to have a lot of prayer time
and go off to lonely places

2013
07/28
POSTED BY
CATEGORY
Discipline
Poetry
Prayer
TAGS






Leave a comment

Revival Starts with Me …

I offer another reminder to seek wisdom through the writings at Proverbial Thought.

Last week I did something I have not done in a while: I posted a song that gets me thinking.

I have written before about the importance of prayer, because it is so vital to the life of a Christian.

We wonder why we have no power over circumstances.

We wonder why we do not see miracles.

We wonder why we struggle.

We wonder why revival never comes to our community …

… and if it does, why does it not last?

As Tim Timmons sings, it is because we are not fulfilling our part. Usually, we are trying to do too much and missing the vital first step!

Starts With Me

What could I do to leave a legacy?
How can I speak with authority
When I can’t see you, I can’t see you
How can I know the dreams you have for me?
How can I believe beyond what I have seen?
When I can’t hear you, I can’t feel you now
No, no, no

(Chorus)
You’re my revival song, you start where I belong
On my knees, on my knees
When I am weak or strong you meet me here
When I’m on my knees, on my knees
Oh, it starts with me

Why do I try to work outside of you?
Knocking down doors I should be going through
But I’m so tired, I’m so tired
You take my burdens off of my shoulders
You break the lies that hold me back
I’m not sure enough

(Chorus)

I really wanna change the world
I really wanna save your soul
But I know revival’s got to start with me
I really wanna change the world
I really wanna sing Your song
But I know revival’s got to start with me

(Chorus)

2013
07/23
POSTED BY
CATEGORY
Music
Prayer
TAGS







1 comment

Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 07/21/2013

Process the wisdom offered at Proverbial Thought!

Christ lived and died so that we may be forgiven. That is instantaneous.

We also are sanctified. That is both instantaneous and a life-long process.

 

 

processing      

 

this Man lived a life
He went through a process
that included Him going to die
and rising so He could free us

when we respond to this
He makes a change inside
but this is also a process
to become like Him who died

we need to remember that His life
was raised up to also revive us
this is not only to be applied
but something our hearts and minds can process

while there is a change inside
that is instantaneous
becoming more like Jesus Christ
is a lifelong process

2013
07/21
POSTED BY
CATEGORY
Poetry
Sanctification/Sanctified
TAGS






Leave a comment

All I Can Do Is Say …

Show your thankfulness to God for His wisdom by getting some wisdom at Proverbial Thought.

My wife has been working on me since she has known me to be more thankful.

This simply means that after someone has offered to do something for me, has done something for me, has offered advice to me, has been friendly to me … really just about anything nice to or for me, I should say “Thank you!”

It is a struggle for me, because I am the kind of person who is satisfied to see a smile or a child run off with their new toy or hear a contented sigh to know that someone is thankful for my service, words, or thoughts.

I have to admit, however, that perhaps we see so many problems in our society because of a lack of thankfulness – between each other and to God.

That is the real rub of things.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15, NIV

Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:18b-20, NIV

I particularly like the Mikeschair words it:

All I Can Do (Thank You)

I could write a love song
Tell you what I think you want to hear
But it  wouldn’t be good enough, no
Yeah, I could try so hard
To give it  everything I’ve got
But I’m not ever gonna measure up

(Chorus)
All I can do is thank you for this life I never deserved
Wanna thank you  for the grace I know I don’t have to earn
You love me, you love me, your  mercy is proof
All I can do is say thank you
All I can do is say thank  you

It would have been easy
But I’m glad you never walked away
Cause your love runs deep for me
And I see this beautiful world and it  brings tears to my eyes
And I think it’s beautiful to be free

(Chorus)
All I can do is thank you for this life I never deserved
Wanna thank you for the grace I know I don’t have to earn
You love me,  you love me, your mercy is proof
All I can do is say thank you
All I can  do is say thank you

For love, for hope, for all the ways
Yeah, for  everything you do
What else can I say but thank you
Thank you

I  could write a love song
Tell you what I think you wanna hear
But it  wouldn’t be good enough

(Chorus)
All I can do is thank you for this  life I never deserved
Wanna thank you for the grace I know I don’t have to  earn
You love me, you love me, your mercy is proof
All I can do is say  thank you
All I can do is say thank you

All I can do, all I can do,  all I can do is say thank you
(repeat)

2013
07/16
POSTED BY
CATEGORY
Discipline
Lifestyle
Music
Thankfulness
TAGS








2 comments