Tag: Christian character

Rich Mullins…

IrmMa

Words written long ago by the late great Rich Mullins. And still true.

These Days

There’s a song down in my heart, nobody there to sing it
Like a vision asleep in the dark, with no one around to dream it
We just all sit back and watch all that we love sinking away

When we got to where we was going, we forgot just where it was
The next thing that you know is, all we found was, we was lost
And the blame, oh, the blame comes down on all of us, these days

And these days, we got nothing left to find
These days, oh, it’s the blind leading the blind
And these days, I need more than just a line about Jesus
Oh, I need to see His love, these days

We got sophistication in the wake of the fall
Now we got this civilization and it’s got us all involved, in nothing
Oh, nothing at all but atomic waste

And we got too many people, who are too easily disposed of
Well, you can make it all legal, but in the end you know that it ain’t right
You were just doing your job and your job did you in, these days

And these days, we got nothing left to find
And these days, oh, it’s the blind leading the blind
And these days, I need more than just a line about Jesus
Oh, I need to see His love, these days

And these days, I need more than just a line about Jesus
Oh, I need to see His love, these days

Songwriters
Mullins Richard W; Hall Pamela Ann

ead more: Rich Mullins – These Days Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Check out this You Tube Video.

 

Found this online…

IrmMa

I came across this letter posted online and I thought it was worth sharing. Any thoughts?

A Letter From Our Pastor

“The journey of 10,000 miles begins with the first step.” Chinese Proverb

Every New Year, just like every new day, gives us the chance to begin again. Waking to the light of day, feeling the breath of life flow in us, means we have one more chance to do just a little better than the day before. A chance to be a bit more patient. A chance to be a little more loving. A chance to give more to others and take less for ourselves. One more opportunity to forgive those who have injured us or to ask forgiveness from those we have hurt.

A new day…a new Attitude.

Central to Jesus’ understanding of how we are to live our faith are these very common, everyday decisions. Jesus spoke very little about what people should believe compared to the tremendous amount he spoke about how we should act with one another. Our actions flow from our attitude, and there is NO ONE who has control over that except ourselves.

The other day I overheard a person walking into HEB say, “He just ruined my day. I’m so worked up now I’m going to have a terrible day…” I thought to myself, “Yep, you certainly are as long as you let other people control your attitude like that!” We allow people to move us out of our peace. It isn’t their fault our attitude is bad…it is our fault.

This Fall I’ve been working on some cabinets at the house, and I have been very careful to do a good job. Then this week, when I was putting on the final handles, I drilled the holes crooked in the doors. I was SO MAD!!! Now, to correct them I would have to leave holes in the finished doors. Beth saw me right as I discovered the problem, and I was fuming!!! I said, “I just want to break something!!” I left the house to go get some hole filler at the hardware store, and it took me the entire trip there and back to work on my attitude. Why was I so mad??? After really digging underneath the anger I realized I was mad because one more time, my need to push and hurry to finish a project resulted in a stupid mistake that could have been avoided. I was furious that I had repeated a mistake I have made many times before.

I stopped and asked God to help me correct this part of my nature. To help me not be so driven to finish something that I make foolish errors. To learn to let things take the time they need. The anger began to dissipate. A more peaceful spirit returned to me. I got home, re-drilled the holes, filled the visible ones and put the handles on. The cabinets look fine.

A Vacation to Sodom & Gomorrah

IrmMa

Can you imagine a vacation getaway to Sodom & Gomorrah (S & G)? Unlike other destinations, this one offers an array of scintillating vices, absolutely wicked, to satisfy the most eccentric of desires, to fulfill every fanciful dream ever imagined, with satisfaction guaranteed, no questions asked. Sounds deliciously inviting if you are so inclined. So, if you take a trip there, stay there for a couple of weeks and return regularly, chances are you enjoy the instant gratification of those devilish desires. You will identify yourself as an avid fan of  S&G, much like any other theme park, or other favorite destination. It’s not quite the same deal when you enjoy the not so family friendly vacation spots. When it comes to vacation destinations that cater to our most lustful urges, it’s not so much about how you identify yourself, but how others perceive you and, or the particular destinations.

“And the LORD said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. “I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”…” Gen. 18:20

Most people won’t think negatively of people that visit Disneyland, or take cruises, safaris and such, but take a trip to a strip bar, a gentlemen’s club, or just go bar hopping, and observers, close (friend of foe) or from afar will automatically form an opinion, typically unfavorable and apply a negative label. Well, a vacation to S & G would no doubt raise the eyebrows of most conservatives. If you spend much of your leisure time in such low places what opinion have fellow believers formed of you, or you of them? More importantly, knowing God’s grace is sufficient, and His mercy never ends, what would God think of your choice of vacation spots?

Well, this is what I heard. If you hang in S & G… don’t be offended when others, whatever their spiritual state/or lack thereof, judge you for questionable behaviors, choice of life styles, etc. If the Lord tells us to come out and be separate…well…that’s what we should be doing, separating ourselves…not continuing to satisfy our carnal desires. Whatever they may be, or however innocent/harmless they may seem. More later.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Rom. 6:1-2

Therefore … “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 2 Cor. 6:17

When you just need an ear…

IrmMa

It always seems as if the enemy is gaining in the war on sin. With every attack his only goal is to knock us down, to shake our foundation, to shatter our faith (steal, kill, destroy). When the unthinkable happens my first thought is..why, Lord?

I tell myself it’s not God that makes mistakes. It’s His children that make bad choices, that choose not to be obedient. I inevitably question my own walk, my own committment to the living God. Ultimately, I ask myself…”Did I not impress upon my loved ones the ways of God sufficiently to have avoided this horrible incident?” 

(RM) “Sometimes my life makes no sense!” That’s what I say. When I read that

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Rom 8:26-28).”

Hearing the news…I cry out, Lord, I don’t know what to pray. 

The world does not know what it wants! It’s quite evident in the lives of many individuals. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of the impenitent sin of the people, complete deviation. Our society is heading south very quickly and moral absolutes are no more. 

Rich Mullins sang, “I am ready for the storm…” As I sit and listen to him sing this song, I am telling myself…”NO, I am not ready for this storm! Lord. 

The storms of life can be devastating on so many levels.  As believers we turn to our God knowing full well that the battle has already been won. The enemy has been destroyed. He may try to shake our foundation, but the Lord is our rock and He is not shaken. He is not moved.

We are in this world, but we are not of this world, and though we must confront the enemy we hold on to the promise of God that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. Still, we need to confess our doubts and fears, and our unbelief so that the Lord can minister to us, so the Lord can work in us and through us, so the Lord can meet us where we are and give us peace.  

Oh Lord…guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.