Tuesday, October 31, 2006
For the first time in years all four of our daughters spent the night at our house including the four grandchildren. In the morning grandma made pancakes with the help of our five and three year old grandsons. Today, they all go home and the house will regain its quite composure. Just about the time you get used to all the activity it ceases.
Life is like that. What is one day is not the next. Even in His all-knowing hand, God sees daily changes in individual lives and the world’s population as it exercises its daily right of change including birth and death. “Taking time for time” is the main issue people face today in their search for a balanced, prioritized life.
We must do more than just smell the roses or take a whiff in a passing moment. We must take the time to hold the roses!
-Lyn Sahr
-Prov 21:29-30 NIV
A wicked man puts up a bold front,
but an upright man gives thought to his ways.
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the LORD.
Monday, October 30, 2006
A young person is only young once. And an old person is only old once. In other words, you only live once! That being the obvious, why is it that people don’t spend more time planning and preparing for life?
Even more interesting is the fact that you only die once! The statistics on death are quite impressive, one out of one persons die. That being the obvious, why is it that people don’t spend more time planning and preparing for eternity?
Answer? They ignore the obvious and cling to their earthly gods.
God’s people are called to concentrate on the obvious. When you recognize the obvious you cling to the God of heaven and earth.
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 121:1-2 NIV
I lift up my eyes to the hills–
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Yesterday I got word that an old family friend’s teenage son was killed in a car accident. I am reminded that when we dedicate our children into God’s hands for His keeping, we also give them to Him for His taking. We cannot pretend to understand these things but we can rest in the peace of knowing that God loves us and we must trust Him for all things. We can either blame God for the tragedies in life or we can use them to draw us closer to Him and for Him to use us to touch other people’s lives. This thinking is of little consolation in the immediate grief. I cannot imagine the pain for the parents and grandparents. But I do believe that God will have the last word, and it will be good.
-Lyn Sahr
-1 Cor 13:4-13 NIV
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
For years I was stuck in the mindset that worship was something that we did on Sunday mornings at 10 A.M. and the church building was the only place to do it.
What a great day it was when the Holy Spirit helped me break free from that worship mentality to realize that we can worship God at anytime and anyplace.
When was the last time you sang a hymn or song of praise to God while driving in your car (don’t worry if you raise a hand and other drivers stare)? What about worshipping while taking a stroll in the spring flowers or fall colors? Did you worship while watching the sun rise over the trees or ocean this morning? Or did you worship while doing simple housework or yard work, or while thanking God for your children while they slept?
Go ahead, worship the Lord today but don’t forget to assemble with other Christians and worship tomorrow too!
-Garrett Novak
-John 4:21-23 (MSG)
“Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God’s way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming- it has in fact, come when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.
“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.”
Friday, October 27, 2006
Two pastors, one young and one old, were asked to participate in the same worship service. The young pastor opened in prayer and the older closed in prayer.
The young pastor got up and prayed the most eloquent prayer, quoting scripture and resounding in excellence. The congregation could not help but be impressed at his words.
At the end of the service the older pastor got up, prayer a simple, basic, heartfelt, no frills prayer thanking God and asking His blessings on the people and they left.
The contrast in the two prayers became obvious. The young pastor was talking to the people and the older pastor was talking to God!
-Lyn Sahr
-Matt 6:5-8 NIV
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
When I was a little boy my step-great grandfather, who lived with my grandmother, used to buy donuts and hide them in various places in his room. We used to look around and try to find his donuts so we could eat them even though we knew it would make him angry. From time to time we would find the hidden donuts but they were not just stale but hard. He probably forgot where he hid them. I often wondered why he wouldn’t share his donuts while they were still fresh instead of being so selfish, not letting anyone else enjoy them.
But he was not so different from many Christians. They go to church, sit in their pew and don’t share their talents or gifts. After awhile, like my great grandfather’s donuts, they get stale and cannot be enjoyed by anyone. And I don’t like stale people any better than I like stale donuts.
So what can I say? Pass me a fresh donut!
-Lyn Sahr
-Matt 5:13-16 NIV
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
It has been said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. As I guy who loves to eat, I can understand the appreciation for a “good cookin’ woman!”
God too knows the way to our hearts. We are built with a natural desire to help others. Give God your hand to do His work and He will capture your heart
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 86:11-13 NIV
Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Today I got an email telling me that I could fire my boss. What a joke. I can’t fire God!
The lesson here is to realize that God is still your boss even at work. Understanding we do our jobs and go to our jobs as His ambassador helps us to get along better with co-employees and our employer.
-Lyn Sahr
-Prov 18:9-10 NIV
One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
Monday, October 23, 2006
GPS (Global Positioning System) is quite the technology. It tracks people, knowing where they are, throughout the world from satellites. But it doesn’t compare to HSS (Holy Spirit System), He exists in the hearts of believers all over the world, knowing who they are, all at the same time!
-Lyn Sahr
– 2 Tim 1:14 NIV
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Have you ever had someone speak something to you that seemed to be the very voice of God? Recently God opened a door for me and even though I can see Him working through this opportunity, there are many reasons (very logical reasons) to rethink this whole thing. I have gone over the list in my head many times. And the reasons are very logical. Yet on the other hand, I can sense that God is working in the situation. So I have been going back and forth with it. And unfortunately I have to admit that the logical reasons to not continue have mostly to do with self and what I would like to do. I enjoy doing the work in this new area, but it is demanding physically. And it takes a fair amount of time. I shared my concerns with someone the other day, and this dear brother said, “It isn’t always pleasant to do what God has called us to do.” So I have decided I will continue, and enjoy it as long as I see the open door. And I know that when God says the time for this particular job is done, He will close the door and there will be no doubt about it.
-Ardis Rivera
-1 Corinthians 16:8-9a
But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9because a great door for effective work has opened to me,
-1 Thessalonians 5:24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
Saturday October 21, 2006
Conform or transform? It’s hard to discern isn’t it? The world is screaming out to conform, or to accept and adjust to it and the way of the masses. God tells us to be “transformed,” by renewing our minds, and then we will be able to see what His will is for us.
My guess is this, if more Christians were working on being transformed, we wouldn’t be so inclined to “conform.”
-Garrett Novak
-Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Friday, October 20, 2006
If God is good and Satan is evil, who are you? You are good or evil, the choice is yours. But no one is “goodevil!”
-Lyn Sahr
-Matt 25:31-26:1 NIV
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Passion is stronger than reason. Always has been and always will be.
Every person is going to have a passion for something. Sometimes it comes in the form of what we call an addiction. When someone is addicted to tobacco, alcohol or both it is not so uncommon that they also become addicted to drugs. When some people leave their addiction to alcohol or drugs they transfer that addiction to gambling. Pornography also becomes an addiction that people move into to find that missing something. If only people knew that the addiction they are struggling with is their driven passion that is misplaced and mismanaged. They are seeking a passionate God who draws people passionately to Himself. If people’s passion and weakness results in an addition, better they become addicted to God!
-Lyn Sahr
-Matt 6:24 NIV
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
-2 Cor 12:7-10 NIV
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Volunteers are not to be taken for granted. They are precious people who inconvenience themselves and commit themselves tirelessly to the task before them. I know that many volunteers are not appreciated enough by the leadership of the organizations they serve. Although this is not done intentionally, in the busyness of things it is easy to forget to say thank you and express appreciation. I know. I am guilty of that myself.
But I am impressed with the first volunteers of the New Testament church, the twelve disciples. When they were asked to serve they left their jobs and businesses behind forging “full steam ahead for what they believed in!” But I am more impressed by the countless millions who have went unrecorded and unrecognized since them who have poured their hearts and lives into the cause of Christ and the betterment of man. They are the Army of the Lord!
-Lyn Sahr
-Joel 2:11 NIV
The LORD thunders at the head of his army;
his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command.
Tuesday, October 17, 2007
What would it take to make you happy? If you are honest, your answers are probably incorrect because I am convinced that many people have no clue what will make them happy! Unfortunately, many people have found nothing that will make them happy. Our perception of life is based upon what we see and hear and we are watching and listening to the wrong things. With church attendance on the decline and church involvement an antiquated idea, people are finding less and less clues to real happiness.
Someone once said, “Money can’t buy you happiness but it can help you look for it in more places.” That being the case, after you have looked everywhere else, hopefully you will have enough gas money to get to church!
-Lyn Sahr
-Eccl 2:26 NIV
To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Driving too fast is against the law and so is driving too slow! Therefore, we must drive in between these two extremes to avoid breaking the law. The story of the Old Testament is the consequence of living extremes, the law. The story of the New Testament is forgiveness for the extremes, grace. These extremes are called sin, missing the mark that God has for us.
There are two kinds of sins that illustrate this clearly, the sins of omission and the sins of commission. The sins are commissions are willful violations against God. The sins of omission are the things we don’t do that we should have done. But somewhere in the middle of all of that there is a place of living with God’s guidance, not too fast and not too slow!
-Lyn Sahr
-Isa 53:6 NIV
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
-Rom 3:23-24 NIV
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
A couple of weeks ago I took a long bus trip. An Amish man was on board for part of the trip. A lady from California and this man and I started talking. During the conversation, the lady mentioned how she longed for the “simpler life”. I thought of how the Amish live and thought she probably wouldn’t choose that lifestyle. But she sounded so tired of the busy-ness of modern life.
I have heard of parents who encourage their children to be involved in all sorts of activities, and then complain that their children are to busy to ever be home with them. And many adults have their days filled to the max.
What is the result? Many things can be the result. Perhaps some relationships are severed. Illness, both physical and emotional, can happen. And this type of schedule can cause us to not have time to spend in communion with God.
We need to slow down and take the time to spend with family and friends. And most importantly, we need to make spending time with God a priority in life. Even Jesus, as busy as He was, took time to be alone with His Father and then to spend time alone with His disciples.
I think God is calling us to come to Him. He wants to spend time with us. He knows that we need a break from the busyness of life so we can just spend time with Him. He is calling. What is your answer?
-Ardis Rivera
-Song of Solomon 2:10-14
My lover spoke and said to me,
“Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, and come with me.
See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me.”
My dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the hiding places on the mountainside,
show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
I have three brothers, and after several years scattered around the country, we all live in the same state again in the upper Midwest. This should be a great thing, but for years we haven’t all gotten together at family functions, or for Christmas celebrations, due to fighting by two of them. This “dysfunctional” family situation seems to be the norm today, and even though each of my brothers had made a commitment to Christ, this “riff” still remained. Forgiveness and reconciliation are hard things, even for brothers. I had talked to each of them, and actually went and “found” a brother who had moved away to the southern United States and stopped communicating with our family for many years. Yes, it was a hard thing to be part of.
In late September, our youngest brother was married, and it was the first time we were all four together in one place in nearly nine years, and I was ready for a situation to arise, and prepared to intervene. After following my brother who was going to start something, I watched something amazing happen. Instead of starting a fight, he instead broke down and apologized for the last few years, and before I knew it they were embracing. Seconds later I was embracing them both, and from across the reception hall, our youngest brother (the groom) saw us and made his way quickly over the embrace the three of us. As the four of us held each other, sobbed, and just enjoyed the reunion, the people in attendance stopped their conversations and started looking at us. Before long, our mother (who had also prayed for this day), was in the group with us. We must have held each other, cried, laughed, and just enjoyed our family for nearly 10 minutes, stopping the “festivities” of the night. Now, there are still things we need to talk about and “smooth” over, but that night was the starting point, and God brought together a family once more. It was an incredible “God moment” in our lives.
Isn’t that what God is in the business of doing—-restoring and reconciling? Are there relationships in your family that need restoring today? Has God put you in a place to be the catalyst to call or write that family member?
Just like Joseph, in the book of Genesis, events happen in our families, rifts develop and the enemy is pulling us apart. But if you stay faithful, and allow God to work through you, restoration and reconciliation can happen!
-Garrett Novak
-Genesis 45:1-7
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Friday, October 13, 2006
What are you willing to share with others? When I was in high school a friend of mine stayed over night at my house and in the morning I noticed he was brushing his teeth with my toothbrush. I never used that toothbrush again. I wasn’t willing to share!
Most people have things they just don’t want to share such as their car, sewing machine. pickup truck, hunting rifle, instrument or other personal items. There are some things we just don’t share.
Then there are things we should share but don’t. Some of those may include meals for people in crisis, financial help when there is a need or even sharing a word of encouragement. But there is one thing that we should share on a regular basis that is often never shared by well intentioned Christians, their faith.
I know that it is difficult for people to share your faith so perhaps you should consider a reverse approach by asking people if they could tell you how they think people can get to heaven. But be prepared. You are going to be surprised as to what you hear. However, it opens the door for you to tell someone else how you think a person can get to heaven.
By the way, how do you think people can get to heaven?
-Lyn Sahr
-Mark 16:15-17 NIV
“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
I just finished two 3 ½ hours of driving class for people 55 years old and older to receive a 10% discount on car insurance. I hated to go because I have been gone nonstop for days but I mustered up the energy and attended. The participation level by some of the people was way beyond my expectations. At times the class almost seemed rowdy. And I confess, near the end I piped in with a couple of comments myself. As I listened I thought maybe some people would rather be the teacher instead of the student.
Perhaps that’s not so unusual. Sometimes I think people develop the mentality in their desire to be Godly that they begin to act like or think they are God. I have determined that I don’t want to be God. I am busy enough just being Lyn! I can’t imagine being “new age” and think that I become God. How ridiculous! I’ll stick to trying to become what God would have me be and let God be God!
-Lyn Sahr
-Rev 22:12-13 NIV
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
When we love someone and they turn their back on us, reject us or attack us it is very, very painful. Jesus knows all about it. He experienced it first hand on Calvary.
Take your broken heart to Him and He will give comfort to your soul.
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 42:1-6 NIV
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.
5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and 6 my God.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Gray is a color that exists when one cannot see black or white. Gray is a mixture of the two colors, meaning that both colors are lost in the mix. When we bend the rules, and everyone has done it, we lose our ability to see clearly, we accept rationalization and defer from absolutes. However, God seems to bask in defined colors and especially embraces black and white. Of course we are talking about mixed up faith, not mixed up colors!
-Lyn Sahr
-Col 1:21-23 NIV
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation- 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Monday, October 9, 2006
When I looked out over Seekers Bay early this morning I saw a rather strange thing. It was raining south of our dock but not north of the dock. It was a much defined separation and I don’t recall seeing anything like it before.
Life is kind of like that. Even with all the things going on around us we need to have a defined line that is visible and evident that separates us from the world.
-Lyn Sahr
-2 Cor 6:14-17 NIV
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.
Sunday, October 8, 2006
I often refer to my grandmother because I watched her live the Christian life for over 50 years. This morning I was thinking of how she evaluated pastors, both her own and those from other churches. I specifically remember a time that was particularly troubling to her. She was having lunch in the local restaurant and one of the local pastors came in and neglected to bow his head and give thanks before he ate. No doubt if this had been a Sunday fellowship dinner after church the pastor would have prayed before the meal.
Sometimes Christians and even pastors forget that if only Sunday belongs to the Lord, who owns the rest of the days of the week?
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 107:1 NIV
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
-Matt 14:18-21 NIV
“Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
-Matt 26:26-29 NIV
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
-Luke 24:30-32 NIV
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
-Acts 27:33-36 NIV
Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat… 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.
Saturday October 7, 2006
Are you like me, and feel that a lot of days you just aren’t “equipped” to handle what comes your way? Well, you’re right! You can’t do it without God. He is the giver of gifts, and gives us enough “equipment” to handle the day.
Remember, professionals built the Titanic, but amateur ark-builder Noah (equipped from God), built the ark.
What is God equipping you to do today?
-Garrett Novak
-Psalm 60:11 (MSG)
Give us help for the hard task; human help is worthless.
-Deuteronomy 11:8 (NIV)
Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.
Friday, October 6, 2006
The past two times we have put fuel in our big Ford diesel we use for hauling food something strange has happened. We put 20 gallons of fuel (Which isn’t very much but it is all the money we had) in each time at ¼ of a tank, which is where it should have been, and it went to over ¾ on the gauge. So I looked in the tank after filling and sure enough it was near the top. Interestingly enough it holds 100 gallons. So the second time I looked in the tank first to see if it looked low and it did. I added 20 gallons and it nearly filled it. Now I could think of many reasons, as you are right now, to explain this strange phenomenon but I choose to just use the fuel.
Regardless of what the explanation of the fuller than supposed to be fuel tanks, it reminded me of how sometimes we are running near empty and can only get ourselves partially refilled. Then the Holy Spirit comes along and does something wonderful. He kindly gives us more fuel and He fills us according to His knowledge of our need, not ours.
So what’s the deal with the extra fuel? Don’t know! Stay tuned for the next fill!
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 143:7-10 NIV
Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
Thursday, October 5, 2006
We are or are becoming what we sing about and the music we listen to.
This can also be said about the things we watch, look at and read. We are all becoming something, influenced by our spiritual environment or the lack thereof. What you expose yourself to, and you continue the habit whether it be good or bad, you will be exposed as.
To sing of the glory of God requires a like melody in ones heart.
-Lyn Sahr
-Luke 2:13-14 NIV
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Wednesday, October 4, 2006
In looking for a church today, I would be give less credence to if a church is “seeker sensitive” and more credence to if it is “God sensitive.”
-Lyn Sahr
-Matt 6:33-34 NIV
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
I would be amiss if I overlooked addressing the tragedy of school shootings that we are experiencing in the United States. It is my understanding that so far this year, I haven’t been able to double verify whether this is for the calendar year 2006 or this school year, there have already been 25 shooting episodes. Our nation is being brought to its moral knees asking ourselves why this is happening. Perhaps we should look around society and the church for our answers.
In our county on any given Sunday only about 10% of the population is attending church. Charitable giving to our local organizations and churches is on the decline curbing outreach programs to those with low resources and in crisis.
Our public school teachers and administrations are overwhelmed with behavior problems of students and negative confrontations with parents.
In spite of all the educational efforts drug and alcohol, tobacco, gambling, promiscuity, teenage pregnancy, pornography, venereal disease and other associated problems are out of control. The financial world has placed a strangle hold on society through exorbitant credit cards interest and charges, inflated fuel costs that affect everything we purchase and inadequate pay for those with little or no marketable skills. In the last forty years the cost of most necessities has increased 10 times and the minimum wage has increased only about 4.5 times.
We have restructured our churches to go main-stream and have eliminated prayer meetings/Bible studies and replaced them with less spiritual terms as to avoid making people feel over-churched. Perhaps we need to go back to Sunday morning services, Sunday night services, Wednesday night programs with prayer meeting and Saturday night youth services. In other words, perhaps “church people” aren’t spending enough time in church.
We need christians paying their tithes (10% of their gross income) to the Lord’s work instead of to the “Me Account,” I’m going to buy me this and I’m going to buy me that. If people are willing to go without they will discover something within!
We need to rediscover our knees when we pray and make Bible reading more than a bathroom experience.
People were not created to live in the kind of world we have created. I believe that people are under so much pressure just to survive what they think they must have and in many case the bare necessities to live that… they cannot be themselves. God create man in His own image. Can you see God running around like we do? I believe we are out of whack with God’s image for us. For many, an “extreme makeover” is in order!
-Lyn Sahr
-Gen 1:27; 1:31-2:3 NIV
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning–the sixth day.
2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Monday, October 2, 2006
Late this afternoon I was on the lake looking at the beautiful leaves that are in the process of changing colors. I was reminded that in the fall season of our lives we should gain beauty. But too often people become bitter as the toll of the years takes place. As we grow in grace the aging process should take us on a journey of contented peace, not bitter resentment.
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 92:14-15 NIV
They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The LORD is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
Sunday, October 1, 2006
When Jesus short term ministry on this earth came to a close the world was changed, but not people! There was a new covenant but people were the same as they had always been since the time of Adam. They were in need of redemption. When Jesus died on the cross He shed His own blood that man may be redeemed from his sin. Without that shedding of blood there would be no forgiveness. The message of the church needs to be the same today as it was in the Old Testament days and when Jesus walked the earth, redemption. People still need a redeemer.
The question is, “Who is going to tell them?”
-Lyn Sahr
-Heb 9:22 NIV
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
-Job 19:25-27 NIV
I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes-I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
