Psalm 121: 7-8 The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
This verse reminds me of the prayer little kids pray each night before bed:
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Guide and guard me through the night and wake me with the morning light.
I think we should all be comforted by this verse each day. "The Lord will keep you from harm - he will watch over your life."
-when your facing financial troubles
-when you are sick
-when are traveling
-in everything you do!
But when you look at the second part of the verse, it makes even more sense, the Lord is like our light house. When ever we feel we are in the dark we can keep looking, BAM, there is His light to guide us back to Him. And, no matter where we go, the Lord is there, watching over us - ALWAYS.
I am glad I have someone to watch over me. And someone I can go to when I feel sad, down trodden, and happy! Someone I can share my thoughts to and someone who knows me for who I am - good and bad.
Dear Lord, Thanks for always being there for me. For watching over me day and night. But not only me. Thank you also for watching my friends, my family, and yes Lord, even my enemies. Keep us all safe. Amen.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Precious Little Children
Mark 10:6 And he took them up in his arms, placed his hands on them, and blessed them.
My wife and I watched "My Sisters Keeper" the other night. She and I both cried. If you never have seen it, I highly recommend it. I won't give away too much, but basically it is about a family who is torn apart because a child has cancer. Why did I cry? Sure the movie was sad, but I kept thinking, "What if that was one of my children?" I am not too sure what I would do.
My wife reads blogs about families whose children have cancer. She experiences the triumphs and set backs through the words of the writers, letting her in on the family affairs and the affairs of the child. The pain and the joy. The life, and sadly, the death of the child. I often wonder, "why would our God give such a terrible disease to these precious children?"
I believe it is not to hurt them or to make them suffer, but to open our eyes and to help us experience the love and pain Jesus suffered. I am thankful I do not personally know any child who has cancer, yet I do know of families whose children have it. This does not mean I don't think about them. I do. And I pray to God that he helps them everyday. Helps them see the love the child has. Helps them to experience kindness when the child is in pain. Helps them experience joy when they can go home, or get off a medicine, or even smile.
We all know the song, "Jesus loves the little children." But do we? Do we turn a blind eye to those children who suffer? Or, do we do something about it? What about the families? How do we help them?
As I wrote before, I believe children who have cancer have it so they can help us. I say this because think of your children, or if you do not have children a family member such as a sibling. What if they were diagnosed with cancer? How would you react? How would you change?
Jesus holds these children in his arms and blesses them. He holds them when they are in pain. He hold them when they smile at their mom or dad. He hold them in each and every operation and test. And, when they are in the arms of their mom or dad or loved one, Jesus is holding them all. I read a story about a mom who was holding her child in her arms while he was dying of cancer. She stated that even though her child died in her arms, she felt life in the room. She felt as though she had a warm blanket wrapped around her and her son, even though she did not. She knew it was Jesus, holding them both. She knew her son was now able to laugh and play in heaven.
When the children suffer because of their pain we should be there to comfort them. Jesus is there to comfort not only their pain, but ours as well. I am scared to think if my son or daughter was diagnosed with cancer. But I know Jesus would be there to comfort me and my family. He would be there holding their hands making them smile - for us.
So, next time you visit the hospital maybe bring a few gifts to give to children who may need a little "pick-me-up." Or, if you see a child who may have cancer walking down the street smile at them. And as you do, know that Jesus is smiling back at you.
May God bless all children, young and old. May he keep them safe and healthy. May he also allows us to see the love of Jesus come out through them as they may suffer, yet know they are safe in His arms.
Dear Lord, I am thankful I have two healthy children. Bless them and keep them safe. Also, allow me to open my eyes and see those children who may have cancer for who they are. Children who are loved by you. Children who are comforted in your arms and who you have blessed. Amen.
My wife and I watched "My Sisters Keeper" the other night. She and I both cried. If you never have seen it, I highly recommend it. I won't give away too much, but basically it is about a family who is torn apart because a child has cancer. Why did I cry? Sure the movie was sad, but I kept thinking, "What if that was one of my children?" I am not too sure what I would do.
My wife reads blogs about families whose children have cancer. She experiences the triumphs and set backs through the words of the writers, letting her in on the family affairs and the affairs of the child. The pain and the joy. The life, and sadly, the death of the child. I often wonder, "why would our God give such a terrible disease to these precious children?"
I believe it is not to hurt them or to make them suffer, but to open our eyes and to help us experience the love and pain Jesus suffered. I am thankful I do not personally know any child who has cancer, yet I do know of families whose children have it. This does not mean I don't think about them. I do. And I pray to God that he helps them everyday. Helps them see the love the child has. Helps them to experience kindness when the child is in pain. Helps them experience joy when they can go home, or get off a medicine, or even smile.
We all know the song, "Jesus loves the little children." But do we? Do we turn a blind eye to those children who suffer? Or, do we do something about it? What about the families? How do we help them?
As I wrote before, I believe children who have cancer have it so they can help us. I say this because think of your children, or if you do not have children a family member such as a sibling. What if they were diagnosed with cancer? How would you react? How would you change?
Jesus holds these children in his arms and blesses them. He holds them when they are in pain. He hold them when they smile at their mom or dad. He hold them in each and every operation and test. And, when they are in the arms of their mom or dad or loved one, Jesus is holding them all. I read a story about a mom who was holding her child in her arms while he was dying of cancer. She stated that even though her child died in her arms, she felt life in the room. She felt as though she had a warm blanket wrapped around her and her son, even though she did not. She knew it was Jesus, holding them both. She knew her son was now able to laugh and play in heaven.
When the children suffer because of their pain we should be there to comfort them. Jesus is there to comfort not only their pain, but ours as well. I am scared to think if my son or daughter was diagnosed with cancer. But I know Jesus would be there to comfort me and my family. He would be there holding their hands making them smile - for us.
So, next time you visit the hospital maybe bring a few gifts to give to children who may need a little "pick-me-up." Or, if you see a child who may have cancer walking down the street smile at them. And as you do, know that Jesus is smiling back at you.
May God bless all children, young and old. May he keep them safe and healthy. May he also allows us to see the love of Jesus come out through them as they may suffer, yet know they are safe in His arms.
Dear Lord, I am thankful I have two healthy children. Bless them and keep them safe. Also, allow me to open my eyes and see those children who may have cancer for who they are. Children who are loved by you. Children who are comforted in your arms and who you have blessed. Amen.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Working out for the Lord
1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profit little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that is now, and that which is to come.
So I just finished running on the treadmill. 3 miles in 25:16. Not too bad. My goal is to run less than 8:00 minute miles and I would say that now my average is 8:45 for my longer runs. Remember, I am training to run a 1/2 marathon this May and my ultimate goal is to make it into the top 100. But, my overall goal is to run it in less than 1:40:00.
I also want to improve me strength and overall fitness so I have started working out with basic non-weight exercises (push-ups, pull-ups, sit ups, etc). A secret goal of mine is to be more fit than the fittest person in my class that I teach. This shouldn't be too hard, since many of my students are just starting a fitness routine. But I do have the occasional athlete. I also want to remain fit so I can watch my kids grow up, graduate and get married. Then I also want to be able to play with my grand kids.
But, according to the above verse, I should care less, right? Wrong. I believe that the verse tells us to live our lives the way God wants us to. Which means that we need to put God before everything and to do everything for God. What does this mean for my exercise routine? Well, as a teacher I need to be fit so I do not look like a hypocrite when I teach fitness. Also, as a teacher who deals with my students one-on-one for a majority of the class, I am able to show themmy Gods values by how I treat them and my actions. Often I get asked if I attend church and I can gladly answer yes.
I can also look around my neighborhood and find many fitness groups who also have Bible studies. Can you imagine how God uses them? People who may not know God, yet want to get fit can do both. That is Amazing!
So, by exercising I can help people become fit and get closer to God! What a win-win situation.
Dear Lord, Thank you for using me as a vessel in which I can use my fitness and knowledge of exercise to help others not only become more fit, but to see the values you want them to see and know. And, by seeing these values, will want to get to know you more. Amen
So I just finished running on the treadmill. 3 miles in 25:16. Not too bad. My goal is to run less than 8:00 minute miles and I would say that now my average is 8:45 for my longer runs. Remember, I am training to run a 1/2 marathon this May and my ultimate goal is to make it into the top 100. But, my overall goal is to run it in less than 1:40:00.
I also want to improve me strength and overall fitness so I have started working out with basic non-weight exercises (push-ups, pull-ups, sit ups, etc). A secret goal of mine is to be more fit than the fittest person in my class that I teach. This shouldn't be too hard, since many of my students are just starting a fitness routine. But I do have the occasional athlete. I also want to remain fit so I can watch my kids grow up, graduate and get married. Then I also want to be able to play with my grand kids.
But, according to the above verse, I should care less, right? Wrong. I believe that the verse tells us to live our lives the way God wants us to. Which means that we need to put God before everything and to do everything for God. What does this mean for my exercise routine? Well, as a teacher I need to be fit so I do not look like a hypocrite when I teach fitness. Also, as a teacher who deals with my students one-on-one for a majority of the class, I am able to show them
I can also look around my neighborhood and find many fitness groups who also have Bible studies. Can you imagine how God uses them? People who may not know God, yet want to get fit can do both. That is Amazing!
So, by exercising I can help people become fit and get closer to God! What a win-win situation.
Dear Lord, Thank you for using me as a vessel in which I can use my fitness and knowledge of exercise to help others not only become more fit, but to see the values you want them to see and know. And, by seeing these values, will want to get to know you more. Amen
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