Do you have a "Crazy Love" for God???

My wife and I have been reading through this book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan over the past week. I have been challenged and also feel led to share this video. If you haven't picked up the book, you can find even more info here...there are chapter introduction videos and countless other goodies to check out. Here is the introduction video from the book.



Let me know if you have read the book and what it meant to you...once we complete the book, I will be posting a review here, so check back for that...

But before I let you go, let's take one last look at our memory verse for the week from 2 Timothy 2:15..."Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

I hope that it has spoken to you as it has me. Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

Dive Deep!!!

I saw this video and thought it was a great illustration of our Bible studies. Our memory verse this week comes from 2 Timothy 2:15..."Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."



Let's not be afraid to "dive in deep" and learn what God has for us!!!

Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

Studying to be approved...

As I start back into my collegiate studies, I have been thinking about how we are to learn not only to gain knowledge to be used to further our own personal goals, but also to be a better steward of what God has given us. That leads me to our memory verse for this week, found in 2 Timothy 2:15..."Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

This week, in my Theology studies I've been reading about analyzing the Scriptures and their context to make the best broad statements (theologies) about my beliefs. When I look at the Amplified Bible's translation of this verse, it reminds me of that..."Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth."

So, for me to "put my best foot forward" in my walk with the Lord, shouldn't I be spending time learning what God is trying to teach me? If my time with God is there, my life will show it! The other point is that I must work at it...not try, not read and be done, but diligently work at it. It says a "workman that needeth not to be ashamed"...so, I must put forth the effort to learn. Sounds like school a bit, right?

Growing up, school was somewhat easy for me...I put forth very little effort and ended up with A's and B's. College is a bit more difficult. However, if I spend the time doing what is asked (read, listen, take notes) which does take some of "my" time, The results are grades that show it. If I am willing to put forth that type of effort for a degree, shouldn't my Bible study and prayer time have an even greater place? Shouldn't I be taking notes and learning the Scriptures, so that I need "not to be ashamed"?

The beginning of the verse says I should be "eager" and "doing my utmost"...am I eager to spend time reading, praying, studying, doing the work??? I would like to say "yes", but I can't always...

My final thought on this is if I am basing my life and walk with God on just the parts of the Bible that I like, wouldn't I be missing out on a lot. I must study the Bible completely, so I can truly understand, live, and be able to help others accurately or skillfully as the Amplified states.

Keep going over the verse for the week from 2 Timothy 2:15..."Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Pray that God will touch your heart with it's words...Don't stop there, let's truly push ourselves to study and work at it!!!

Please let me know if there is a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

Feeding the wolf...

Okay, before we get into the news of the day, I want to take another look at our verse of the week. It comes from Acts 6:4..."But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." Rather simply, we are called to keep in contact with the Lord both through our prayer time as well as our Bible reading and study time.

Yesterday, we focused along the lines of prayer, so today let's look at a few verses in relation to our study of the Bible. Our first verse comes from 2 Timothy 2:15..."Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." I am sure you have all heard this verse, but have you ever noticed that it portrays our study as a job? We are called a "workman"...and we are supposed to study the bible and be confident in what it tells us. If we spend no time in the Word, how can we be confident that we know and are doing what it says?

Our next scripture comes from Luke 4:4..."And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." This verse shows the necessity of having the Word of God as a part of daily "intake". Not only do we need physical foods to live and survive this life, but spiritual foods to prosper in the sight of the Lord.

This reminds me of the story I heard about a boy visiting with his Cherokee grandfather. They were talking about inner battles we face in life. The grendfather equated the battles to having two "wolves" that battle for victory. One "wolf" is Evil and the other is Good. When asked which wolf wins the battles, the grandfather says..."the one you feed"...

Which "wolf" are you feeding in your life? Are you feeding on the Word of God daily or are you sustaining yourself with the fruits this world has to offer? The "wolf" you feed will win in your daily struggles. Take another look at our verse for the week in Acts 6:4..."But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."

Think on it...pray about it...and feed yourself on the Words contained...

Finally, I would ask that everyone be in a state of prayer for the election going on today. I am not promoting here for one or the other, but rather that God's will be done. I voted this morning, and ask that you vote, too. Stand up and let everyone know you voted!!! Please don't stump for one or the other here, though...

Let me know if there is a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today...