Monthly Archives: June 2008

June 20, 2008

Breaking the Silence Pt 2

By Roye Glass

I admire anyone who steps up to the plate of faith and LIVES it OUT LOUD.  Today, I have been thinking about the trouble that is often times associated with faith-filled living.  Each one of us has “our” cross to carry.  Sometimes the silence experienced in life is a welcomed retreat… the kind I am longing for this weekend.  Then there are those times of silence when one is walking by faith and in desperate need to hear from God.  That’s the kind of silence none of us likes.those days tend to be some of the lonliest!

While reading this morning, Job 42:10 leaped off the pages:

“When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes.  In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!”

Again in the pages of the Bible, we discover that life is not about ourselves.  If anyone has a “right” to complain it would be Job – In my humble opinion.  Despite our personal turmoil we are called to pray for and with other people.  “When Job prayed for his friends…”

Our FOCUS must be on the purposes of God and not those “things” we want to be blessed with.  In silence, we must humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord.  Let Him lift us out of our despair.  Anything we do on our own will be just that… on our own!  So in trouble do what you were created to do and don’t give up!  Listen to the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:12 – 18.

12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

 13It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[a]With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

 

Leave a comment | posted in Faith, Silence, Spiritual Growth

June 19, 2008

Breaking the Silence

By Roye Glass

Has God spoken to you?  Seriously, has God spoken to you about what you are doing today?  Are you a believer, brother, and follower of Christ?  If so, I would bet what you are doing in your life is in direct response to God speaking to you. 

2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…”  Are you fully committed to Him?  The Lord is looking over you – seeking you out with the purpose of strengthening you.  All of this to fulfill His purpose in you so that He may be glorified. 

Take it from me – being obedient to God is not an easy thing.  Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me.”  There is a price to pay.  The price is different for each of us.  I’ve lost and given up a lot of “things” while following.  The cost has been much more than possessions but rather pride.  I have been humbled so much over the years.  

Most of the time once we hear the voice of God and respond in obedience we have to face the waves of doubt and fear.  It is through this dark time of belief that we need to stay focused on Jesus.  Don’t lose sight of him in the midst of the storm. 

The words of Oswald Chambers are noteworthy on this subject:

Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.

If you debate for even one second when God has spoken, it is all over for you. Never start to say, “Well, I wonder if He really did speak to me?” Be reckless immediately— totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything— by casting your all upon Him. You do not know when His voice will come to you, but whenever the realization of God comes, even in the faintest way imaginable, be determined to recklessly abandon yourself, surrendering everything to Him. It is only through abandonment of yourself and your circumstances that you will recognize Him. You will only recognize His voice more clearly through recklessness— being willing to risk your all. My Utmost for His Highest, June 18.

Are you going through a time of trial and testing?  Are you second guessing a decision made? Are the waves crashing in on you?  Seek God through the storm… listen for Him in the silence.  Once he has worked out that which has not been surrendered – He will break the silence and everyone around you will hear what He has to say.

 

Leave a comment | posted in Faith, Oswald Chambers, Silence, Spiritual Growth

June 18, 2008

WOW meter hit 10 today

By Roye Glass

I don’t know why… but it happened today.  Another glimpse into God.

I was at my early morning Wednesday group down at the Bridges Agency.  (Sorry guys I was a little late!!)  I just barely beat Tim getting there by about 2 minutes.  It’s typically not that difficult to beat Tim – I was almost shown up today!

On time or a bit behind on the time – Tim always has a good word.  Today he brought up 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…”

When Joel read that my WOW meter hit 10!  I never heard that verse like this before.  God’s eyes are searching the earth for those that he can strengthen… those whose hearts are fully committed to him!  I guess it was the visual I got as that was being read.  The Spirit of God roaming the earth ministering to those who belong to him.

Are you fully committed to him?

1 comment | posted in Friends, Wow

June 17, 2008

Silence Pt. 2

By Roye Glass

I am looking forward to the next early morning rendezvous with God on my front porch.  It’s a great time of being quiet and hearing the silence.  It is through these quiet times I want to get to know God.

If I’m not careful seeking silence can take precedence over seeking God.  If this becomes my focus I will miss God altogether.  As the Sherambler pointed out, the Psalmist writes in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” 

To seek anything other than God is to live life in the natural.  God wants us to live supernaturally by faith. Oswald Chambers puts it this way, “Everything our Lord asks us to do is naturally impossible to us.” (The Love of God, 49).  Are you accomplishing things that you can do? (Or) Are you doing those things only He can accomplish through you?

As believers in Christ, can we get to a place where our hunger for souls saved outweighs our hunger for God?  Our first thoughts, passions, and hunger needs to be for God.  Matthew 6:33 states, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” (NIV).

I’m looking foward to a time of silence.  I am looking forward to getting to know God more in that silence.  In whatever your heart desires… seek Him first!

 

 

Leave a comment | posted in Focus, Oswald Chambers, Psalms, Silence

June 17, 2008

Silence

By Roye Glass

 Boy, all I want to hear right now is silence.  Wouldn’t that be nice? 

Don’t you wish at some times in life you could just automatically be transported to     (Fill in the blank)   ?  Some place that is peaceful… no cell phones, computers, TV, cars, or schedules.  Some place where you could just be quiet and listen to the silence.

I’m home for lunch right now.  I was laying down on my “big chair” dreaming of silence and all I can hear is the air conditioner running.  (Thank God for A/C!!)  It got me to thinking about this past Sunday morning (at Taylor’s Lake) when we took 10 seconds to listen to the wind blow through the trees.  That’s the kind of silence I’m talking about.

I need a bit of silence in my life right now.  I want a place where I can go and do nothing with the exception of listen to the silence… and hear His still small voice in the midst of the silence.

God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.  Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.

Their words aren’t heard, their voices aren’t recorded, But their silence fills the earth:  unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. (Psalm 19:1-4, The Message).

1 comment | posted in Psalms, Random Thoughts, Silence

June 14, 2008

Birthday Party

By Roye Glass

Walker’s 6th birthday party was today!!  We are celebrating it a few days late.  Happy Birthday!!!!

Leave a comment | posted in Family

June 14, 2008

Heavenly Father’s Day

By Roye Glass

Passages I am reading these past few days.  John 14:12-14.  Take note of verse 13.

12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (NIV).

“So that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” 

The FOCUS of our lives is God… bringing glory to the Son – who in turn gives the glory to God.  How do we bring glory to the Son?  By obeying the teaching of Jesus.  See John 14:23-27.

23Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

 25“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (NIV).

I learned something or noticed something a month or so ago while fasting.  Normally when I fast I spend my time thinking and praying about the situation or need I have.  This past time I FOCUSED on God and His Son.  Not on my specific need.  I didn’t really think about this at the time… but later it came to mind that this was how I spent that day.

So… why bring this up now?  Because this is what God is teaching me.  Our lives are to be spent giving ourselves to Him.  Our purpose for living.  We aren’t to seek the things of God but rather God.

God is supernatural.  He wants us to live life supernaturally.  In The Love of God, it states, “Has God been trying to bring into your life the fact that He is supernatural, and have you been asking Him what He is going to do?  He will never tell you.  God does not tell us what He is going to do; He reveals to us who He is.” (Oswald Chambers, 114).

God wants us to get close to Him.  On the eve of Father’s Day, draw near to your Heavenly Father… solely for the purpose of drawing near to Him… the benefit will be that He will draw near to you.  But don’t do it for the benefit do it for the Father.

Leave a comment | posted in Bible Study, Books, Fasting, Oswald Chambers

June 12, 2008

It’s alright… it’s alright…

By Roye Glass

Wednesday morning I went to my early morning small group.  In my opinion, it was one of the best hours we have ever spent together. 

As I was driving to work that morning I got to thinking about freedom.  What kept running through my mind is, “Who the Son has set free – he is free indeed.” 

As I pulled into the parking lot where I work, I looked up and saw two white vans driving down the road.  On the side of the vans it read, “State Prisoners”.  Through the glare on the windows I could see the bars and the orange jump suits.  Again, I thought about freedom.  I thought about my freedom that I enjoy physically that they do not share. 

Sure I’m free to drive my car, walk, and go just about anywhere I want to go.  They can’t.  Yet, I ask myself, “Am I really free?”

The answer is an emphatic – YES! No matter what my mood is.

My place in Christ stands on being free from the chains of sin.  Only through Christ can one experience true freedom.  My spiritual position is one of freedom.  I do have the consequences of past decisions I’ve made.  In some areas I feel the bondage to those things.  But I know God is at work to liberate and in the process of being liberated He is providing great teaching so I can learn from this… so that someone else may never taste the physical bondage I’ve experienced  – my well is deep.

My Utmost for His Highest reads today,

God writes our new name only on those places in our lives where He has erased our pride, self-sufficiency, and self-interest. Some of us have our new name written only in certain spots, like spiritual measles. And in those areas of our lives we look all right. When we are in our best spiritual mood, you would think we were the highest quality saints. But don’t dare look at us when we are not in that mood. A true disciple is one who has his new name written all over him— self-interest, pride, and self-sufficiency have been completely erased.

Joel sent me this txt message tonight:

I found freedom, it was the kind you’re looking for

Leave a comment | posted in Oswald Chambers, Random Thoughts

June 9, 2008

Making the most of…

By Roye Glass

… every opportunity.

Sunday morning at The Church At Woodland, we had a time of worship which included the Lord’s Supper.  I like the way the Lord’s Supper was administered.

We were encouraged to partake as we felt led during the service.  My son, Walker, was sitting next to me.  And just like with a lot of things he had many questions.  This was a great opportunity for me to talk with him about what we were doing and why during the “music” portion of worship. 

I explained to him the purpose behind the bread and the wine (grape juice).  After I explained it to him he watched me eat and drink.  After I drank the juice he asked, “Was that gross?”  :) I had to go back and explain what I was drinking was not really Jesus’ blood and that the juice represents the blood he shed for us.

Leave a comment | posted in Family, Parenting, Spiritual Growth

June 8, 2008

What’s next to do?

By Roye Glass

I’m wrestling with the thoughts I had from “Take courage…”

There were other examples I could have used instead of the one I used about playing guitar.  So now, I wonder “What’s next to do?”

This question comes from today’s Oswald Chambers. 

…Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God…

When you know that you should do something and you do it, immediately you know more. Examine where you have become sluggish, where you began losing interest spiritually, and you will find that it goes back to a point where you did not do something you knew you should do… My Utmost for His Highest, June 08.

Sometimes I look back at a decision I made to leave one church.  I’ve wondered on several occasions if that was the right thing to do.  At the time, I thought it was.  I believe God even led me to specific passages of Scripture that helped me in that decision.  I wonder still… so much turbulent water has gone under the bridge since then that makes me ask the question today: “What’s next to do?”

No matter what I do today – I still go back in my mind and past to determine at what point I de-railed so that I may get back on the tracks and ride out His purpose.

1 comment | posted in Memories, Oswald Chambers, Swimming, Trust

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