At Catalyst, Andy Stanley quoted Michael Hammer in the quote below.  I now have it in my office.  This quote has challenged me about my own life vision… my dreams… my future.

When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near.

I have a good friend (Mike).  Mike is one of the most encouraging people I know.  I worked with him in Albuquerque.  There was this one phrase he said often that stuck with me.  Anytime we were getting ready to do anything he would say, “Let’s make a memory.”  Living with that mindset one is always looking toward the future.  Do you live with vision or do you live with the memories?

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

I watch the news… ALOT!!  Which network do you prefer?

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Psalm 50 is on my mind as I lay in the bed.  So I just got up to read it.  I am troubled.  I have prayed and prayed and prayed tonight.  Throughout the day.  For weeks I’ve desired to not worry my prayers to God.  Tonight I am asking God to allow me to breakthrough into a prayer of power and strong faith. 

So now at 12:30 AM I get out of bed to read Psalm 50.  In verse 10, God tells his people he owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  Every bird and animal belongs to him. 

Verse 14 God states, “What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High.”  Hear what God says here in verse 15, “Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”

Psalm 50 ends with these two verses:  “Repent, all of you who ignore me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you.  But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.  If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” (23 – 24, NLT).

Do you find yourself in a time of trouble?  Do you need God’s help? Then keep to His path!  Walk His road.  Live in obdience to His Word.  Love Him.  Trust Him.  And give Him thanks!

He’s not looking for our sacrifices – our burnt offerings.  He is asking that we repent… trust him in our time of trouble… give Him thanks – this is the sacrifice He is looking for.  God wants us to stay true to Him.  Put our trust only in Him.  He owns it all.  Everything belongs to Him.  Repent and keep to His path and we will see His salvation.

So…. what do you want to talk about? 

I don’t have a clue.  Things have been really strange lately.  I am reading but don’t really have anything to say about it – just yet.  I’m ready for this election to be over.  I’m ready for the Nation to move forward.  I think I need to do this thing… just to think that is not really what God wants.  So, I’m kind of lost in the moment.  Don’t really have much to say… but feel like I should say something.  I haven’t felt very good.  Still holding onto the bronchitis.  Lori is sick.  Walker is sick.  Valerie had a mild temperature tonight.  Jacqueline and Alexa have runny noses… Lucas kind of feels left out on the feeling bad scenario.

So… what do you want to talk about?

So.  You think you have got it all together.  But there’s this thing that keeps you from moving forward.  It’s like you are tripping over the same old rock.  You know it’s there.  You’ve walked the path so many times before but you still keep tripping over the same rock. 

What are you going to do about the rock?  Have you identified the rock?  Is it something you can take care on your own?  I bet it’s something you will end up needing some help with.

C. C. DeVille of Poison has a couple of thoughts about it. 

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Catalyst… I was there!

Catalyst… It’s still bugging me!

Catalyst…        

I can either run to the Truth and embrace it… or I can run from it.  From all indications there is no running from it.  Total surrender is the only acceptable response.  God is on every street corner.  He is in the midst of every conversation since those two powerful days.  God was there before I got there.  He was waiting.  God was in the invitation for me to go.  God is here with me today.  God is.

This is not about Catalyst.

I have read several blogs from some who have attended Catalyst.  I hear their response.  I hear how God has dealt with them. But I still struggle.  I still cry.  I still sit here looking through my notes.  What is it I can’t let go of?  Why is it God will not let go of me?  (Not that I want Him to).  But He is always there – He is always here.  No matter where I go in my thoughts he is there. 

He was there December 1983.  He changed my life set me a part for Himself.  To lift Him up!  To tell His gospel story.   

I have the house to myself this morning.  I have sat here in silence.  Just sitting.  I dare not go outside and do anything as I have had bronchitis for the past week.  So, I sit… just listening to the silence.  When was the last time you sat in total silence?  Literally the only thing I can hear is the refrigerator and THAT is about to drive me nuts!  God is here. 

This is not about me…

In the silence, I have prayed for friends.  Friends who are sick.  Friends who are serving the Lord at this very moment.  Friends who are surrounded by fear.  Friends who are full of hope and encouragement.  Friends who God is reaching through me.  God has been doing some things I didn’t even know about until day before yesterday…. WOW!  But today – I’ve just sat here.  And so has God.  It took me a bit to notice He was here.  Oh - I was listening for Him but I had some things to deal with in this silence.  In this moment He is here.  He is there with you too.  It could be today or It could be tomorrow but He is there.  Kind of freaky – I know.  But it’s His love.

Is it noisy where you sit? 

Although I have been sitting here in this silence my mind has been filled with the noise that distracts me so much.  Now that I am here… now that He is here… I just want to stay here in this silence.  I have found a bit of peace.  The noise is gone (even the motor of the refrigerator is silent).

It’s all about God… His Son – Jesus…

Have you told anyone lately?  Is the Holy Spirit working through you today?  Or is there too much noise?  You know He will work through you even through all of the noise… don’t let the noise trick you to think otherwise.  Your life is His… let Him use you today… there’s another life waiting for the Truth.  They are looking for it.  They are on the street corner.  They are in the grocery store checkout line.  They are at your work.  They may even be in your church.  They are where you are.  Be abandoned to Him.  Run… go and tell what He has done for you.  Don’t let the moment pass you by.  It’s not about Catalyst… it’s not about me… It’s all about Jesus.  It’s about setting the captive free. 

The world is looking for a revelation
We’re always under their investigation
They look at us to hear we got to say
They can’t see Jesus when we stand in the way
They don’t need no more elevated speeches
We’re keeping Jesus just beyond their reaches
Can’t see the forest for all of the trees
They won’t see Jesus till we fall on our knees

(From, “Lift Him Up”, Petra – Bob Hartman, 1983).

Silence Broken

Kara just broke the silence with a very strange txt message:  “John McCain is at the Cartersville Airport until 1PM” I had to turn on FOX News and break the silence to find out for sure.  It was a scheme of the devil… to get me out into the cool breezy weather.   John McCain is in Albuquerque today!!  Which is ironic  – as I would love to be living in Albuquerque once again!!  Thanks for the diversion Kara.

Yep, everywhere I turn out here in this land called life I run into this thing called fear.  Fear seems to be gripping this nation, this state, the town, and me these days. 

When I think of fear one of the first things I recall is the show, “The Little Rascals”.  I can recall so many times them somewhere in the dark and something happens that frightens them. 

What happens when one gets fearful?  FREEZE!  I think that’s the reaction for me. 

I stop and ask God to help me deal with the fear… give it to Him.  I stop and look around and listen closely for Him.  Unfortunately, there are times the fear is so strong when I stop to look and listen all I can hear is my own racing heart.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10, NIV).

I have kept this verse on my blog for a couple of months now.  I keep it there as a reminder to look to God in all of my circumstances.  To remind myself not to cave in to this spirit of fear that is getting a grip on this nation.  It’s a reminder that my strength comes from God and He will uphold me when times are tough. 

It’s a reminder to me that there are many people out here living in fear.  It’s partly my job and partly yours to lead people to hope and trust in the One who gives strength to all  who ask.

Photo found Life at the Quinn Home.  Great worship music here too.

We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.

…And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.  (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, October 19).

Our active lives in the Kingdom need to be an overflow of the immersed life of the beliver in God’s truth found in private time with God.