THINKING BIBLICALLY

THINKING BIBLICALLY

This phrase, "thinking biblically" has been on my mind for some time now. I use to share this with the guys in my dorm when I was a Dorm Supervisor. It was interesting to hear some of the responses I received. To think biblically requires us to give up some things that we has selfish people have always been unwilling to give up.(the way we like to do things)(doing what we want to do). It requires us to sacrifice doing things according to our norm and raising it to a standard that does not come natural to us.

A term that must be brought up while pondering this is "obedience". Two questions that must be answered are: To what standard then are we to live? Whom are we to be obedient to? The answer to both these questions is "God". If we are to think and live biblically, then the Word of God must become the silhouette(standard) to which we live our lives.

To be more specific in the application of this: how we parent, how we teach, how we perform at our vocation, how we respond during crisis, how we respond to others, how we view ourselves, how we do business, how we manage our finances, and how we view others must go through the screening of God's Word. That is thinking and living biblically. Putting aside what we think is best and doing things God's way.

For centuries man has struggled with Obedience. Over 15 times in the book of Judges, the phrase "And they did that which was right in their own eyes" is mentioned. It is referring to God's dealing with the people of Israel. God provided for them. God protected them. God punished them. It was a continual cycle and one that has carried over into our lives. We get caught up with WHAT we have, and WHO we want to be like, and end up forgetting HOW we are to live.

As we face today and the next, may we remember as Christians that we have a responsibility that precedes all others. We are to live OBEDIENTLY to the Word of God. In doing so, we then can live and "think biblically."

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

FOR THE LOVE

OF GOD

Awakened by your presence

Corrected by your rod,

Serving not for man's praise

But for your heavenly applaud.

Driven not by duty

To my precious God I fear,

But by His love that is deep

That is always pure and near.

Smitten by a love that is strong

It gives me peace of mind,

An anchor of strength through the day

My glimmer of hope I can always find.

For the love of God I therefore

Find the words to speak,

Whether I am ridiculed by the rich

And made humble by the sight of the weak.

Pressing on with diligence

Through the daily grind,

Led by my Father's hand

Full of blessings so rich and kind.

FROM A DISTANCE

FROM A DISTANCE

I am an on looker in amazement wandering who you are,

Wishing that my gaze did not have to be so far.

Refreshed by the thought of you, both lovely and divine,

Secretly becoming a pirate; your heart, O to make it mine.

The trek for your fellowship so long and undeserved,

Trusting in my God to keep my heart for you preserved.

The words I wish to share with you are temporarily lost,

Pining away for your love, not stopping at any cost.

Left in this trance I am upon a treasure that is divine,

A pirate for your gaze which causes my heart to shine.

I will continue to grasp upon that which is content and dear,

Longing for that day that you are forever near.

ON THE EDGE

ON THE EDGE

Two steps backward and one step forward perched on the fence of restraint and release,

A moment's choice could reveal the outcome of consequence and denial.

Pulsating from my heart comes the cry of peace,

A place in which many seek, but find themselves lacking.

Suspended is my heart, not by doubt, but by the comforting Hands of God,

Filled by His indwelling; leaving me satisfied in His presence.

A stranger not to the frustrations of life, but a frequent visitor to the Throne of Grace,

Who am I that I should neglect the position of humility.

On the edge, but stedfast facing eternity,

For one cannot proceed while sitting and wrestling with that which is temporal.

REMEMBER

Time fades in the shadows of the memories of yesterday
Wounds of pain have now become the scars of distant chances
Suffering is a frequent visitor that peace is now a stranger
Words of wisdom are now the brief reflections of stammering thoughts
Smiles are shuffled in the corner of tears and frowns...remember...
Joy is the product of a heart rooted in eternity.
Song is a resounding of amplified satisfaction in Christ Alone.
Peace is the quieting of a fretful soul once headed toward destruction.
Time is not an entity in itself,but a train we will never catch and a ride which will always have an end.
Remembrance is the reward of the thwarted soul, battled spirit, and broken heart.

Because Of You

Little note: To those of you who view this, I wrote this song and I need a tune to go along with it. I am open for some ideas.

Because Of You

As I woke this morning I was feeling weary,
When I took a step I fell down
As I tried to pray my words were so empty
When I looked around all I had was gone
Others looked at me and said it was useless
Why don't you just curse God and die....
But then I looked up with exasperation and yelled with joyful sound

Chorus: because of You there is always a tomorrow --Because of You I can live today--Because of You I can praise you Jesus --Because of You....Because of You...

As I carry on daily with this journey
I will look to You with excitement
I will not take heed to the world's wisdom
I will trust and follow your precious Word
When I face another bump on this journey
I will remember You Jesus
When I see others that are hurting
I will let them know with joyful sound....

Chorus: Because of You there is always a tomorrow--because of You I can live today--Because of You I can praise You Jesus--because of You...Because of You

Bridge: Because of You I have joy--Because of You there is hope--because of You there is tomorrow--because of You I can do all things...I can do all things...(back to first chorus)

Thoughts: I Have been reading through the book of Job and a book about the life of Job. This song is kind of a gathering of thoughts about what I have been reading.

THAT'S MY GOD !!!

If you are like me this morning, you were probably dreading Monday morning. Why is it that Mondays seem to hit us hard after the weekend. Maybe, because as we wake up in the morning, our brains begin to flutter like a computer reminding us of all the things we have to do during the week. Are maybe all the encouraging things you heard from Sunday begin to grow quiet again in your ears and heart. Well, I would like to share some things with you about my God and why there is always reason to rejoice for a new day and week.

GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYER
GOD IS SOVEREIGN (IN CONTROL)
GOD IS FAITHFUL
GOD IS COMPASSIONATE
GOD IS FORGIVING
GOD IS MY STRENGTH
GOD IS EVERLASTING
GOD IS ALWAYS NEAR
GOD IS MY SALVATION
GOD IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER
GOD IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF MY FAITH
GOD IS COMING BACK TO TAKE THOSE TO HEAVEN THAT TRUST IN HIM
GOD'S WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN MY WAYS
GOD'S THOUGHTS ARE HIGHER THAN MY THOUGHTS
GOD'S WAY IS PERFECT
GOD'S STRENGTH IS PERFECT
GOD SAVED ME FROM WHAT I REALLY DESERVE
GOD IS PATIENT
GOD IS JUST
GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT
GOD WALKS WITH ME, TALKS WITH ME, SEES ME, HEARS ME, COMFORTS ME, GUIDES ME.

GOD HAS SOME OTHER NAMES AS WELL: ALMIGHTY,ADONAI, ALPHA, BELOVED, BLESSED,BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR, COMFORTER, THE DOOR, DELIVERER, EMMANUEL, ELOHIM, FATHER, FRIEND, HOLY,JEHOVAH JIREH, KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS, LILY OF THE VALLEY, OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT, OMNISCIENT, PRINCE OF PEACE, ROSE OF SHARON, SAVIOR, SUPREME.....

As you begin your day, remember that GOD is in control. God is always near. He is why we exist. God is real. God is alive. May your hope and expectation be in God. When you begin to ask why? what? when? who? and how? .....remember God!!! Have a delightful and refreshing day in the Lord.