Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Lost

OK, this isn't about the TV show at all... But they have nice pictures! ha

Really, you need to check out this devotional written by Dr. Ed Young...


"Lost things—and lost people—don't always know they're lost. But the one who has lost them knows. Sheep don't know they're lost, but the shepherd does. A lost coin doesn't know it's lost, but its owner does. The prodigal son didn't think he was lost. He thought he was living it up and enjoying the adventure of a lifetime, but if you had asked his father, he would have said, "My son is lost."
Where was the father when his son was lost? Some would argue that he never left home, never went after his boy. But I believe the father was in the far country, too. Not a day or night went by that the father was not with his younger son. Loved ones who are left behind know their own special kind of lost-ness. The wife of a man who fights in a foreign country goes to that country in her thoughts a thousand times a day. The loved one of a hostage is held hostage, too. The parent of a sick child fights disease just a surely as their boy or girl does, and feels every pain.
Day after day, hour after hour, the father of the prodigal was in the far country, too. He was suffering the anguish and emptiness that a life of excess brought to his son. There's not a parent alive who has not experienced the hurt of their child if there is real love there. That's a human picture of the supernatural love of God. He goes where we go. He feels every loss, every disappointment, every pain. And He loves us so much that once, for a moment, He turned His back on His own Son so that we could know that love."

LUKE 15: 13
...the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country...

Where are you? You're not alone...

Feel free to comment below.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Come Get Your Ear Chewed

I'm going to seriously chew your ear.

Well... OK, I'm not talking about "Mike Tyson Style" ear chewing... that's disgusting. I'm talking about giving you a stern talking to about a problem I've got. So here it goes... prepare to get your ear chewed... metaphorically of course.

I have a problem today... my problem is you. I'm taking issue today with how you "measure" yourself. You know what I mean. You're checking yourself out, and making excuses for why you're not doing what you know you need to do. I take even more issue with you about the way you are making excuses or selling yourself short about what you know God is calling you to do.

Listen Buddy... IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!! Seriously, this thing is so much bigger than you. And you know that. That's why you're making excuses. You're saying "with my lack of education..." "with my limited income..." "with my poor health..." "with all my past mistakes....I don't see how I can succeed."

What you should be doing is realizing that "when you are weak, he is strong." What you should be doing is remembering Ephesians 3:20! It says, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

God is wanting to do big things in your life, but you keep telling him you can't do it! What he is trying to get through that thick skull of yours' is that HE'S the ONE that CAN!
 
Who determines if you can do this or that? Who determines if you're qualified? Who decides the extent of your blessings? God does! So if he's laid a dream in your heart, stop making excuses. Get to work on it! Do it! Throw away your measuring stick and accept the plan he has for you. You are smart enough, you are capable, you are able! He has put that in you. No more excuses...You can succeed. Did you hear me?

Sorry that I had to get rough with you... but you had it coming. Now come here and give me a hug you rascal...