when things get in the way
“As they talked together, I thought about all the times our “dates” have gotten interrupted, or when the trees have gotten in the way, or when our plans have changed. Most times it would leave me being frustrated- because my focus was always on ME- wanting to make MYSELF happy.” ~Julie Harris
Source: when things get in the way
How often are we guilty of missing a blessing by God? We all get busy focused on our desires, goals, and plans. How very often we find ourselves in a situation not so different, it might not be a stroll with our husband or wife, it might be at work or the store or anyone of a number of moments. The same and yet different, different yes and yet the same in that we are interrupted for our intended course.
As Julie has pointed out, “…those things are really blessings in disguise – if only we know what to look for.”
We plan and yet God calls us to live in the moment. To look to Him for what we need now. Not only what we need, we are to see how He wants us to meet the needs of others. Blessings come in so many different ways, are we looking?
Blessings and Peace, ~Robert
I didn’t know what I was missing
“When I finally changed my focus and made walking about spending time with Him– the whole world around me began to look different.” ~Julie Harris
Source: I didn’t know what I was missing
The first gleam of dawn…
“So, stop being so hard on yourself…surrender those thoughts to HIM! It’s a new day to love the Lord and to recognize how much He loves YOU!” ~Julie Harris
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what t…
Source: The first gleam of dawn…
Heart Thoughts – Wineskins
Chris Tiegreen writes, “Do we take the time to ponder which of our own wineskins have attempted to accommodate Jesus and failed?….On what points are we rigid? Where do our expectations lie? Do we insist that Jesus bring about our own vision for the future? Do we try to constrain Him to our church structures? Do we rely on methodology in our ministry? (They)….may be good, but Jesus will not fit. He defies constraint. The Lion of Judah cannot be tamed.”
Jesus said in John 3:8, “The wind blows wherever it pleases.” We cannot control the wind. Why do we seek to control He who is the Source of the wind? Joubert’s quote is powerful. The less we seek to define Almighty God, the more we may know Him. And the desire of His heart, His greatest desire, is that we know Him. He is a mystery. He says so Himself. But He invites us to enter into His mystery, and behold Him to reveal Himself in its midst. To do that, we have to let go of all of our presumptions about Him. I had a very great friend who has since gone home to Him. One of the favorite things he used to say was that he had an “Oops theology.” As in, “Oops, I guess I was wrong.” Old wineskins can never live in such a theology. Only new ones can. He will never violate the truth and authority of His Word, but we must know that our limited minds cannot begin to understand how deep, high, and wide His truth really is.
I continue to grow older, and my natural skin is losing the soft, flexible feel it once had. Yet it is my fervent hope that the “skin” of my heart remain as tender and pliable as that of a child. How about you? In the spiritual realm, we’re all wineskins. Are we old ones…..or new?
Blessings,
Pastor O
Along for the Climb
Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams, and on smooth paths where they will not stumble. Jeremiah 31:9 In recent years I have become to enjoy the challenge of a good hike. It has become an aspiration among friends to […]
https://coffeewithashotoffaith.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/along-for-the-climb/
Create in me… by Julie Harris
“Today I am excited to collaborate with some lovely people who write for the blog church set free! We are all writing about what worship means to us. I hope you will visit the site and that it will encourage you in your journey to knowing and growing closer to Him…”
Source: Create in me…
That Brick Wall Was Meant to Be Climbed
An honest observation about the obstacles that come along in life and then the TRUTH about HIM who gives the plan and leads the way!!! Be blessed by this post.
Blessings and Peace the THANKSGIVING season. ~Robert
I am sure you have had one of those periods in life. When you are skating along and everything seems to be going great. You feel confident in the direction in which the Lord has you moving. Then-BAM! WHACK! You slam right into the makings of a brick wall. Or two.
A wall of defeat, maybe.
Maybe it’s a wall of criticism. Or self-doubt.
Hurt. Grief. Loneliness. Sin.
Regardless of what that brick wall may be, it begins to slowly tear away at any progress you have made. Making you feel that instead of moving ahead, you are now starting to move backwards.
Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you the path to take. Proverbs 3:6
This is what I had been doing. I had been letting Him lead me. Allowing Him to show me the path. I had a renewed sense of passion. Of…
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A GREATER PURPOSE
Laura Story, a singer and author of the book “When God Doesn’t Fix It,” tells the story of her 10 year walk with the Father through the brain tumor that afflicts her husband. This tumor has not only robbed him of the sight in one eye, it has also caused him many mental and emotional problems as well. Much prayer has gone up for his healing. Yet he is not healed. At least in the manner that most of us understand healing. We expect when we pray that the Lord will answer and fix everything. But as Story writes, what happens when He doesn’t? What happens when the thorn remains? What happens when He either doesn’t remove the problem, or remove us from the problem? What happens then? What are we left with then? If someone tells us that we are left with Him, all that is Him, and nothing else; no change, no healing, no deliverance, can we accept that? Is He really enough?
Blessings,
Pastor O
Just a Bad Moment
In my home we have something I often refer to as the “witching hour.” It is the not so glorious hours between the end of the school day and dinner preparation. It consists of homework battles, grunts of hunger, bad attitudes, and meltdowns. The battle begins with a weary, emotional mom, and the attitude of […]
https://coffeewithashotoffaith.wordpress.com/2015/10/20/just-a-bad-moment/
Glory to God Alone
As a New Years Resolution, no as a LIFELONG RESOLUTION… ALL GLORY TO GOD ALONE.
In seeking a verse for this year and maybe now my life verse, I’ll wait for HIS direction on the last part, several thoughts have formed a recurring theme in my mind. Since I’m not given to simplicity, wish that I were…, below is what is on my heart, mind, and soul for 2015 and beyond.
” Whoever speaks must speak God’s words. Whoever serves must serve with the strength God supplies so that in every way God receives glory through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen.” ~ I Peter 4:11
The overarching theme has been this:
Is there any work I will not do for the glory of God?
Is there any place I will not go to the glory of God?
Is there anyone I will not approach for the glory of God?
Is there any ministry I will not engage in for the glory of God?
Is there any thing in my life that does not bring glory to God?
Is there any thing in my life more important than the glory of God?
Am I truly willing to do ALL HE has and is calling me to do for HIS GLORY and KINGDOM?
At the end of these questions comes the realization that answering in the affirmative is only the first step. I will have to be dedicated to this purpose above all else! I will have to engage in the constant practice of being in HIS presence constantly. I will have to rely on the power and strength of the Holy Spirit more than at any other time in my life from this very moment on. That this dependency will necessarily grow because the reality of spiritual warfare is in full swing with this decision.
How will I be able to give “Glory to God Alone?” There is only one way, this must be the only purpose in my walk and then only by the power God provides through the Holy Spirit.
” Whoever speaks must speak God’s words. Whoever serves must serve with the strength God supplies so that in every way God receives glory through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen.” ~ I Peter 4:11
I ask for your prayerful support over the coming days, months, and years. To GOD ALONE be the GLORY!!!
In Service to Jesus and you,
~Robert
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