....the greatest amount of glory shines

God tends to speak redundantly, because we forget, don't hear and because he wants to make sure we get it.   Recently, one thing that has gotten lots of airtime from a brother named Tim, my pastor and all sorts of reminders that  "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him".  This is the mission of John Piper....restoration.  A short 2 min vid about why how you can bring glory to God.  If that is your mission in life, you will not be disappointed.

John Piper


"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him" does mean that those who refuse to be satisfied in him and those who do seek their satisfaction in him happen globally or historically in such a way that the greatest amount of glory shines.

Mercy shines, wrath shines, justice shines, patience shines, grace shines—the totality of the rainbow of God's perfections shines most brightly because there are some who refuse to be satisfied, thus calling forth his wrath, and there are some who glut their satisfaction on him, calling forth his grace and glory. "

Legalists beware!

John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. "

Psalm 51:12  "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit"

Proverbs 12:20 "Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy"

Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:



Philipians 4:4  "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice"

1John 1-4 "and these things we write, that our joy may be made full"

 James 1:2-3 " Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience."

1Thes 5:16-18  "Rejoice always;pray without ceasing;in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.
 
Col 1:11 "...strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy"

Gal 5:22  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness"


John 16:24  "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

Matt 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

What if Esther was not in the bible?

My personal answer?

Esther 4:14-16
Uncle Mordicai asks "Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?  Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” 

.....Esther

If I must die, I must die.  Why would someone say such a thing?   They see their life as a small part of a big story.  Where else do we see such a sudden, self-endangering choice that could be avoided by queen of a massive empire.   Where else do we see the tapestry of a plot that leads to such an inescapable choice for someone who sees the story. 

Do I see the story?  Not yet.....there is a faith in His story, but one day I will also see the story.

Do you see yours?

Happy 4th of July...Deliverance has come

Question: How can we be free?  

Glorious Freedom???  Really???   (NOT healthy, wealthy and wise, but FREE).

"For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;  because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." Romans 8 :21-22

Yippeee!
Hear it, Sing it, teach it.
Be not ashamed...Do not fear
for I am with you ....says they Lord

and where the Spirit of the Lord is ....
There is LIBERTY
Not to satify the lust of the flesh
but to become who we were meant to be
in the beginning

With Him....in Freedom
In the garden....In Love
in all circumstances...Giving thanks

R U FREEEEE?

Counsel in the heart of a man

"Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. " Prov 20:5.

Made me think of a young man named Daniel, whose father said he was "deep". Quite a compliment.

Location:Plainfield,United States

TEN ENDEAVORS FOR THE SAKE OF UNITY

Below is the text of a handout from Pastor Jeff Tague at a Calvary Baptist church picnic. (Really. Pretty cool, maybe radical) 

Ephesians 4:1 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit"

1. Become an actual member of a church. I'm serious. Membership shows your loving commitment to one another. This is truly radical. Go against the grain and show that you are really crazy in love with Jesus and join a church. And just think, the less cool the church the more the opportunity to demonstrate real love! And if you're already a member of a church, love someone who's not by encouraging him or her to join too.

2. Turn down jobs that might take you away from church, even if they pay more.

3. Time together: Arrange family vacations around your church's schedule. Or take your family on a vacation with other members of the church. Or better yet, go on a short term mission trip. This will blow people's minds. 

4. Move to a house closer to the church and use your home as a place of hospitality. 

5. Turn heads really practice the biblical teachings of giving and receiving forgiveness. Be quick to forgive others (Ephesians 4:32). Be quick to say you’re sorry (Matthew 5:23 24). Forgiveness may be one of the most radical ways to express love and unity in a congregation, and it's rarely practiced. 

6. Help: Take care of people who are in need physically in your congregation (Romans 12:13). 


7. Purpose to Pray: Pray for each other (Ephesians 6:18). Don't just say you'll pray. Actually put into place some ways to pray for each and every member. 

8. Heart Check: Sympathize with other believers (Romans 12:15). Check a critical spirit. 

9. Discipling: Focus on caring for one another spiritually by discipling one another (Galatians 6:1 2). Though discipling only looks like having lunch, it's secretly and subversively radical. Over a Caesar salad ask the dangerous question: "How are things spiritually?" 

10. The Ministry of the Pew: When you walk into a church service, pray about where you sit. If at church we are working to strengthen our fellow believers, where we sit becomes important. Part of our work will be talking to our neighbor in the pew, welcoming people, helping each other understand God's Word, and praying with each other. Meet others and find out their concerns and pray quietly with them. This will look a bit weird to newcomers, with pairs of bowed heads all around the building; but they will know that we love each other. Once we make the attitude shift from being passive pew sitters and receivers to active workers and givers, there is no end to the difference we can make to others. The key to people work is to observe what happens around you and respond to people's needs.

The first nine endeavors are adapted from J. Mack Stiles book, Marks of the Messenger. He lists 16 ways to demonstrate love and unity in the church, and calls them radical, mind blowing, and world-changing principles, though they are also counter cultural and bizarre to the watching world. The last endeavor is based on Colin Marshall's article for The Briefing titled "The Ministry of the Pew." The entire article can be found at www.matthiasmedia.com.au/briefing/library/1855/.

win·some (Have we forgotten?)

 

win·some

 adj.  Charming, often in a childlike or naive way.

 

So what does it mean to be winsome? 

Word History: Winsome people easily win friends, so it is not surprising that winsome and win have a common root.  Their shared root *wen-, meaning "to desire, strive for,"  has a number of descendants in the Germanic languages:

1. wini- meaning "friend" (literally, "one who desires or loves" someone else), which became wine in Old English 
2. wynn: "pleasure, joy ", preserved in winsome. 
3. win: "to strive for with success, be victorious."

Longing to win loving, joyful, friendship.  (Did we forget what it means to be a child?) 

 

Matthew 19:15 "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 

 

John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. "