NOTHING is impossible with God

I wrote this yesterday on my birthday, but didn't post until one day later.

Part of this blog is intended to encourage others, the other part is just to record how God encourages me. As the bottom is dropping, and I find myself in free fall, God has reminded me in so many ways He cares, and He is in control.  "Cling to me."

From a leaders note of encouragement YESTERDAY
 At one point he was arrested (one of many times) and God miraculously provided a way for him to escape the maximum security prison, in a very similar fashion to what we see in Acts with the prison guards not seeing him walk out and doors that should be locked just opening up.  Yesterday I was reading about this account and his wife wrote a small section about how she reacted to her husband's escape.  She said this, For the first time I really knew that absolutely nothing is impossible for him [God]!  Right when I read this God put you on my heart

From my Life Group leader YESTERDAY
My life verse Brad-love never fails...it remains. We continue to stand with you.

From a Godly Woman, mother and grandmother and leader TODAY:
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
Although your "weeping may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning!"
I keep on thinking of the verse that says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."



From an old Band of Brothers friend TODAY
With God nothing is impossible..Don't give up hope.  Our human nature is to stay close or even run to our comfort zone.

From a coworker's devotional TODAY...
For nothing is impossible with God.  Luke 1:37

As you think about your circumstances this morning, mediate on this scripture.  The word NOTHING covers everything or everyone you think can't change or be dealt with.

Perhaps you are thinking about separation or divorce and have given up on your marriage - NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. 
Maybe your struggling with finances and don't see anyway out of the financial mess - NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. 
You or someone you love is dealing with grief and can't see a reason to continue on  - NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. 
Anger is totally out of control in your life and you've tried everything to get rid of it -  NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. 
Physical or mental illness has taken hold of your mind and/or body or those of family members or friends -  NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.
Jobs are lost or worry about possibly losing your job -  NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.

Are you getting the message through the scripture above my friends?  You may feel God has abandoned you, but just as Jesus prayed in the garden, if it be Thy will take this cup from me and God choose to take Him through the pain and agony of the cross - but the possibilities He provided for each of us goes beyond any measure.  God may allow circumstances to enter our lives, but  NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD and He is working behind the scenes.  Won't you give Him praise and wait on His possibilities in your life.  God bless.

You have been given a great opportunity

Part of a difficult conversation tonight to someone going on 21 

Recently, you and I heard about how most people who win the lottery, end up in a worse place as a result. But sometimes God gives us huge opportunities, because he is willing to let us choose. With great opportunity is great responsibility. You have been given a great opportunity.


(if you see this on facebook, go to http://da98808.blogspot.com/ to play the song)

Live out loud
Stephen Curtis Chapman

Imagine this
I get a phone call from Regis -
he says "Do you want to be a millionaire?"
They put me on a show and I win with two lifelines to spare

Picture this
I act like nothing ever happened
and bury all the money in a coffee can
Well, I've been given more than Regis ever gave away
I was a dead man who was called to come out of my grave

I think it's time for some noise
Wake the neighbors
Get the word out
Come on, crank up the music, climb a mountain and shout
This is life we've been given, made to be lived out
So, la, la, la, la, live out loud

Think about this
Try to keep a bird from singing after it's soared up in the sky
Give the sun a cloudless day and tell it not to shine

Think about this
If we really have been given the gift of life that will never end
And if we have been filled with living hope, we're gonna overflow
And if God's love is burning in our hearts, we're glow
There's just no way to keep it in
repeat chorus

So, la, la, la, la, live out loud
Live out loud
Everybody
La, la, la...la, la, la...la, la, la, live out loud
I wanna hear everybody
La, la, la...la, la, la...la, la, la, live out loud

Every corner of creation is a living declaration
Come join the song we were made to sing

"...play the sunset"

 "Life is what happens while we are busy making plans." 
Mr Holland

He wanted to be a music composer,
....instead he became an inspiration.

He wanted to share music with his son,
....instead his son shared music with others.

He wanted to be famous based on his work,
...instead he became famous based on his life.

In the story, he encourages a young girl to "play the sunset".  While she makes beautiful music, she never becomes a musician.  She become a governor, and comes back to honor him for providing so much confidence when she had been such a "failure." 

What are my plans? What do I "expect" from the people and events around me.  Is that actually what God has in mind? If my way doesn't work, can there be another way that works?

For the last several months my life has been on a high-speed chase.  I have tried to follow God, and he has blessed me, but perhaps my expectations haven't been His. 

My family and I are considering yet another shift to bring our family together.  It doesn't come without thorns. It doesn't come without hope.  It just may not look the way most of us thought it would. My prayer is simply that we could hear each other, so that we can find God, love Him and serve Him together.

Today we met our neighbors, and God reminded me, "Life is what happens when you are busy making plans."

Happy Easter: The Frog in the Shallow Well (Ancient Chinese Proverb)

 Q: How does God speak to us?
A:  Any way He chooses, as long as we listen. Sometimes even if we don't. 


Earlier this week a friend of mine at work (Mr. N. Xu), told me about this story....how was I to know this was God reminding me of His wisdom and his Love, not just for me but for those in my household. 


Have you not heard of the frog that lived in a shallow well? It said to a turtle that lived in the East Sea, "I am so happy! When I go out, I jump about on the railing beside the mouth of the well. When I come home, I rest in the holes on the broken wall of the well. If I jump into the water, it comes up to my armpits and holds up my cheeks. If I walk in the mud, it covers up my feet. I look around at the wriggly worms, crabs and tadpoles, and none of them can compare with me. Moreover, I am lord of this trough of water and I stand up tall in this shallow well. My happiness is full. My dear sir, why don't you come often and look around my place?"

Before the turtle from the East Sea could get its left foot in the well, its right knee got stuck. It hesitated and retreated. The turtle told the frog about the East Sea.

"Even a distance of a thousand li cannot give you an idea of the sea's width; even a height of a thousand ren cannot give you an idea of its depth. In the time of King Yu of the Xia dynasty, there were floods nine years out of ten, but the waters in the sea did not increase. ln the time of King Tang of the Shang dynasty there were droughts seven years out of eight, but the waters in the sea did not decrease. The sea does not change along with the passage of time and its level does not rise or fall according to the amount of rain that falls. The greatest happiness is to live in the East Sea."

After listening to these words, the frog of the shallow well was shocked into realization of his own insignificance and became very ill at ease.

Are you content? Should you be? Are you uncomfortable with the following question: "___your name___, where is your calling, your purpose?"  I am. 

What are the boundaries; those fears or "satisfactions" that limit your vision, your freedom and fullness in Christ (John 10:10)?   Why did Jesus die?   

What is the song of your life? Will you have a happy Easter?




Liquid
jars of Clay

Arms nailed down,
are you telling me something?
Eyes turned out,
are you looking for someone?

This is the one thing,
The one thing that I know.

Blood-stained brow,
are you dying for nothing?
Flesh and blood,
is it so elemental?

This is the one thing,
The one thing that I know.

Blood-stained brow,
He wasn't broken for nothing.
Arms nailed down,
He didn't die for nothing.

You made it buddy!

Last week I cheered as I saw a squirrel running across the busy street at full speed, narrowly escaping the crushing wheel of a truck.  Then he ran up the long ridge covered with beautiful hardwood trees.  "You made it buddy!" Something inside just had to turn to  God and say thanks again.


Wow, two weeks already.  The miracle move seems like yesterday.  Maybe that's because we have been unpacking and dealing with service people continuously for two weeks.  We are just now getting back in "a" groove of sorts.

The verse below came to mind as I was praying that day...and I continue to believe:

"...he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'"
  Acts 17:26-28

 The dramatic change for my family has caused them to seek God in a different way, and our inner movement continues.  I have been happy to see two of my daughters decide to get drivers permits and my family continue to warm towards others subtly.  I believe that small outside change in us all is just a fraction of the work that God is doing.

That said the commotion has taken a toll on my walk with God and I need to fall back more completely to depend on Him as my rest. Changing jobs, houses and phones (from iphone to blackberry) all inside the same week was a little much to "process" as my friend Rick would say....and I need to settle a bit and ponder with God the serious weeks ahead. 

I will never forget those of you who made it all possible, many who did not get their picture above...but those who brought trucks, paid gas, drove an hour or more, carried heavy furniture on with hurt backs,  knees, and tired bodies.  Your sacrifice and love was a sweet offering.  Thank you.

Road Closed, so take a new road

 
Right down the street from our old house was this sign, how appropriate. I hit the breaks, jumped out and took a few snaps while peoples looked at me as some social deviant.  Maybe they didn't get it....I was kicken' happy!  We just took a new road.

This road closed, so a new road wasn't an "option", it was a requirement.  We love to serve, to help, to sacrifice, to love unconditionally because it represents the oveflow of a heart that sees what Jesus has done, and we want to share with others.  A new road isn't just an option.  A believer several states away who has been praying for my family sent the quote below that brought it together for me.

"New opportunities, new creation, new life. The newness Christ offers is a gift that comes from forgiveness and reconciliation – a gift that brings joy and hope. When we embrace and integrate these gifts into our lives, we are moved to celebrate and rejoice. When we embrace and integrate these gifts into our ministries, we are strengthened to become ambassadors for Christ. When we embrace and integrate these gifts into our beliefs, we are able to become friends, fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers who forgive and offer new beginnings to others. (Mary J. Scifres)"

  Those who are wondering about the move....It was UNBELIEVABLE!!!  thanks to the 20-30 people who showed up, including new neighbors I had never met before.  More on that soon (with pictures). Special thanks to Kent, Rick, Paul, David, Tim, Bill, DJ, Mike, Russ, Allen, Vicki, DJ, Garry, Gunner, Nathan, Jules, Josh, Marcella, Bill, Rosie, Nick, Ed, Zech, Ben, Tony, Lori, Ryan, Andrea, and so many others.  Old and new neighbors, my family our God took notice, and smiled.