Tuesday, 7 October 2008 05:26 by
ronnieOne of my favorite classic movies has to be "The Sound of Music". Julie Andrews spinning on the mountain top singing the "Hills are alive...." brings joy to my heart, even now. I believe in each of our hearts is a song, a melody if you will. Paul said it in Ephesians 5:19-20. There is a song in every heart; I call it an itune. It's a song that represents the focus of your life; a song that reflects how you have allowed the things in life to affect your living. It's no secret that each of us has experienced disappointment, frustration, hurt and pain. If you haven't, just keep living, because it will come. Today someone will disappoint you, someone will let you down, someone will fail to see your heart, someone will make a judgment that is incorrect. Hey, keep singing, keep dancing... "sing and make music in you heart". It's your opportunity to dance to a melody that is contrary to the circumstances around you. Always give thanks. Always stay on the positive side of things and don't allow yourself to get out of harmony with others. Don't let others things around you drown the song in your heart. Don't live with a melody of bitterness, anger, judgmentalism, selfishness or self-justification. What song are you singing today? What music are you reflecting? When people see you, when you talk to others, is your music dissonate or in harmony with the creator of all things? I don't want my song to be out of key. I determine to give thanks for everything and keep the song of joy alive in my heart today. For me, "the Hills are alive."
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Wednesday, 24 September 2008 05:38 by
ronnieHello blog world. I know it's been a while. I have to ask you a question, it's the question God asked me this morning. "What hill do you go to?" Actually it's a question God asked the children of Israel. The question comes to a nation that continually ran to their own gods. Is my life any different? I mean don't I have things that I run to in my own life? Don't I have a hill of my own? Don't you have a hill you run fast to? Maybe it's the addiction, the opinion of others, the doom and gloom report on the news, work,... I don't know what it is for you, but I do know that the David said, "I will lift up my eyes to the hill of God." I am running to God's hill. FAST!!!!!!!!!! That's it, pretty simple and something to think about. Oh, by the way, it's the only hill that really brings the help we desperately need.
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Monday, 1 September 2008 07:26 by
ronnie"Jesus got into one of the boats,...that belonged to Peter, and asked him to push off a little from the land." It seems rather presumptuous doesn't it? Jesus claims Peter's boat. He doesn't request the use of it. He simply boards the boat and begins to preach. The reality in life is that all boats belong to Him. Your boat is where you spend your day, make your living, and to a large degree live your life. Sometimes we can have the misconception that only those in full-time ministry have to surrender their boat. I really don't even like the term "full-time ministry" because it gives the illusion that anything else is part time. The plant you work in,...the taxi you drive, the office you manage, the business you own, the family you feed and transport - this is your boat. And believe me it's full-time. Everyone one of us is called to live a life that is fully surrendered to the Captain of the boat. It doesn't matter what you do, Jesus wants to board your boat. Jesus says, "Your work is my work." "You drive my truck." "You work on my job site." "You serve my hospital wing." "You serve in my community." Paul said,...be firm, steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord always being superior,excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the LORD, knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the LORD is not futile, it is never wasted or to no purpose. The next time someone ask you what you do, let them know, I am in full-time ministry. Well maybe you don't have to say it, but you should always be aware of it.
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Friday, 15 August 2008 06:08 by
ronnieIn a world of ME there is an option. OTHERS!
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Thursday, 14 August 2008 06:29 by
ronnie
1 Kings 9:4 - I'm a little confused, if I remember correctly this David who is referred to as a man of integrity slept with a man's wife and had the man killed to hide his sin. Excuse me but that's not integrity. So what is going on here. God obviously looks at more than my actions. The perception of integrity is seeing someone as always doing the right thing. While I believe that to be true is is also admitting you did the wrong thing as proved by the life of David. The question I have is are you willing to admit that you were not a man of your word, that you made a mistake? That's integrity. I don't know it's just a thought.
Jeremiah 35 - You have to read this chapter. In a world of excuses and playing the blame game when it comes to obeying God, this story is really refreshing. The good news is that it is possible to obey God. Way to go Rechabites. NO EXCUSES!!!!!!!
Mark 9 - Don't get frustrated, anxious, or fearful around the devil when he acts up through people. This man's son throws a fit right in front of Jesus; an obvious distraction and Jesus turns around and has a conversation with the boy's father. CHILL OUT!!!!!! Another crazy thing that happens in this chapter is the disciples get all bent out of shape because they see someone casting out a devil and he or she is not part of their group. It makes me laugh...at least this other group got the job done. The disciples couldn't even do that. How often we get upset with results in other peoples lives because we don't see them in our own. Who's fault is that? DUH!!!!!!
JUST SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
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Friday, 20 June 2008 08:57 by
ronnieI would encourage you to read the entire chapter of Psalm 84. I have been reading it everyday since May 1st. It is amazing what you can find in the word of God every time you read. Something that literally leaped out of the page this morning was just one word; MAKE. It is found in verse six, and it reads, "...they make it a place of springs". It refers to the "Valley of Baca". The word "Baca" means drip hence it is associated with weeping. When I think of a drip it says continual, sometimes even an annoyance. If there is anything I know I about the valley's, weeping is generally associated with them. The truth is weeping is a good thing. It is a natural response to trouble or despair in our lives. I think the question you and I have to ask is how long have we been there? The Bible says MAKE your valley a place of springs. When I think of springs I think of life, more importantly I think of living life fully. The question is what are you making out of your valley? For me I am making it a learning experience. I am making it a growing experience. I am making it a renewal to a better place, a place of discovery and reflection. I am seeing springs of life around me and I am forced to rejoice. What the Bible does not say is "take" it in the valley, nor does it say to "fake" it in the valley. I believe God wants us to be real. I am not talking about some hyper-faith mode we shift into. The word very simply is they MAKE it a place of springs. I cannot always control the things that happen, but I am determined that I am going to MAKE IT! What you are going through has nothing to do with who you are and what you are called to do as a Christ-follower. Whatever comes my way I am going to make life about the Kingdom and I'm am determined to live it to the fullest.
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Saturday, 10 May 2008 05:59 by
ronnieYesterday I talked about the identity factor in prayer. In short our identity is formed through a life a prayer. However in order for that to happen prayer must be integrated in our daily life. Prayer is not something we do in order to prepare for the day, it is the means by which we travel through the day. Paul's admonition to the church was, "Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything." (Phil. 4:6) Prayer must be integrated into the moments of our life and become the natural reflex to whatever the day hands us. Every task is tackled with an under-the -breath conversation with the Father. Archbishop Fenelon said, "Accustom yourself gradually to carry prayer into all your daily occupation-speak, act, work in peace, as if you were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be." Integrating prayer into the moments of life brings a sense of significance, satisfaction and holiness to our lives. The sixteenth-century monk Brother Lawrence, who wrote the classic book, "Practice the Presence of God" , said, "There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God." I have found a new freshness in praying about everything and worrying about nothing. I seems to give order to the chaos of life. Learn to integrate prayer into your life 24/7. It is sure to make a difference.
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Friday, 9 May 2008 06:13 by
ronnieI am in a place where my prayer life is being overhauled by God, so I think I'll just share some of my journey. I emphasize the journey part, because I'm not sure we ever truly arrive. We are always growing and learning. I know that prayer opens us to the deep work of God of forming our hearts. Prayer reveals, shapes, secures and sustains us; it is communion that reveals God's delight in us, God's fresh grace for the day and God's powerful presence within us. Prayer helps to identify us in Him. It shapes not only our self-image, but also our self-reality. Everyone needs a good reality check. Most of us want to avoid the painful shaping of our inner selves, yet wrestling thought the night is the way we fall into the greatness that God calls us to. Holding on to God in the middle of the night is never fun-it often causes a limp- but it is the kind of prayer that is life-shaping. Just ask Jacob. The journey from "Jacob" to "Israel", from "deceiver" to "prevailer" can only be taken through allowing God to truly identify who we are verses who he wants us to be. We come as we are, open and transparent before Him. I know that in order for us to change, prayer must never be a monologue, rather it is an active dialog, with times of listening for the thoughts of God. It is having the revelation of who we are, who He is, and more importantly how he sees us that transforms us. It is the key to it being said of us, "they have been with Jesus." Our resiliency in life is nurtured through our dialog with God. Take time today to lift your hands to heaven in absolute surrender and allow God to change in you what needs to be changed.
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Wednesday, 7 May 2008 07:02 by
ronnieOk I got your attention. I thought since it was confession month I would just add one to the mix. I really don't hate prayer, but I hate what it has become in my life. I'm not so sure that if you were honest with yourself you might not say the same thing. I tend to treat prayer as a means to an end, which degenerates into self-serving spiritual speech that leaves me spiritually thirsty. You know what I'm talking about..."Be-good prayers", "Bargining prayers", "Bellyache prayers", "Bless-me prayers", "Battle-on prayers"...should I go on? The true model of prayer is relational at it's core, and it permeates all aspects of private and public life. Prayer is not something we do in order to prepare for the day - it is the means by which we travel through the day. Every task is tackled with an under the breath conversation with the Father. Learning this can be life changing. God is looking for me to come as I am - no pretense, agenda, facade, or guardedness; it is openness, transparency and vulnerability that invite engagement and intimacy with the Father. Tell God all of your heart. Prayer is saying, "God put your fingers deep into the core of my life today." Prayer is letting God's voice speak to the center of who you are-to your guts-and let it resound in your whole being. I have found a new freshness in praying this week that honestly has been missing in my life. I say that with all honesty and sincerity. I am thankful for a Father who lovingly and patiently leads us and stays with us in the seasons of our lives, with the intent of revolutionizing us with His presence in a fresh and new way. I love what prayer has become for me this week. It has been like drinking a cup of fresh water every day. If you hate what prayer has become, get on your knees and be honest with God. He can handle the truth...
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Monday, 5 May 2008 05:47 by
ronnie"As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4) I can't tell you the number of times I have read this verse, meditated it, preached it, and and endeavored to live it. I love the freshness of God's word. One of the benefits of daily reading it, is God can always have the opportunity to show us something that we have not seen, something rejuvenating that can change our lives. Did you notice Peter said, we are living stones, we are in the process of being built up with the intent of fulfilling the plan of God for each of our lives. But did you notice the first five words, I have not until today. "As you come to him..." It is true that discipleship is becoming, it is a process in which he is building us up as a spiritual house. I remember the long process, the frustration, the joy, the hard work, and the inconvenience of building a house. I so want to become everything Christ wants, to be formed completely in His image. But you know what, none of that happens if I don't come to him. I came to him at the age of fifteen, but Peter didn't say, "Because you came to him..." No he said, "As you come to him..." Daily I must come, I must subject myself to this one who was rejected of men, but in the sight of God is chosen and precious. So here I am again today in front of Him, loving him, listening to Him and being transformed by Him. Why? To be his servant, to continually become his vessel, that I might reach people and build his Kingdom. What is the prerequisite? Come, just simply come, and let him change you so that you can become everything He wants you to be. When Jesus called his disciples he said, "Follow me and I will make you to become fishers of men." They knew how to fish they just had the wrong passion. I am daily becoming passionate for what He is passionate for. But only "As I come to Him..." Do it today, you will never be the same.
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