I stole this from someone.. I am not sure where they got it but here it is...
STRATEGIC MEETING
SATAN'S MEETING: (Read even if you're busy)
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said,
"We can't keep Christians from going to church."
"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth."
"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their saviour."
"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken."
"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:
"Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."
"Keep them from spending time with their children."
"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice."
"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive." To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly."
"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives..."
"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."
"Give them headaches too! "
"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere."
"That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas."
"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."
"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."
"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"
"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences. "
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!"
"It will work!"
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.
Having little time for their God or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!
Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. -1 Thessalonians 2:8
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Home and off again
Well my time at Malibu is over... for now. As my time concluded I got the feeling that it wouldn't be the last summer I would spend there. It was hard for me to find any other way to spend my summer then to be serving the Lord at Malibu. It was just so productive in so many ways. I'll keep you updated but I really feel like God is leading me in that direction and it already has me excited.
I literally got home yesterday and tomorrow I will be moving everything up to college. I feel like I spent maybe a total of 7 days at home for the summer.
Tonight I had the opportunity to chat with Jed and Noah. They wanted to hear about my experience and I wanted to hear about what went on in their lives these past 3 months. One thing we talked about that seems to really be reoccurring with me is the topic of risk taking. By risk I pretty much mean trust and when I mean trust I mean trust in the Lord. Jed shared a time this summer when he felt like God was really calling him to something but it ended up not working out.
Think about how often we are too worried about what God has put on our heart. As if we don't interpret what He said the right way. We are so afraid of failure because we think failure in what God told us to do is a bad thing and that others can look down upon. When in reality it could just be a big lesson that God has put together this whole time, to help you realize something else. Maybe at the time it didn't make sense but in the big picture God has laid out for us it was right on.
We always seem to have a "back up" plan for what God has in store for us. We Trust in that direction but we numerous back up plans just in case God's doesn't work out. Are we saying that God's plans aren't good enough for us? That we have to have God's back just in case He gets messy with us? Noah talked about how one day we will be in Heaven talking to God about it and it might go a little something like this...
You: Hey God. Did you see how I trusted in your plan?
God: Yeah and I appreciate the trust you had but what about the "back up plans" you had just in case I didn't pull through for you? You really didn't fully trust in that I would take care of you. You didn't lay it on the line knowing that if it wasn't exactly the way you had planned that I would somehow still take care of you.
We need to risk sometimes. We have to know that God has our back. He is the God of the Universe. The Beginning and End. It might not make sense or seem right in our eyes but in God's the plan is going exactly the way He wants it to.
In his heart a man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9
I literally got home yesterday and tomorrow I will be moving everything up to college. I feel like I spent maybe a total of 7 days at home for the summer.
Tonight I had the opportunity to chat with Jed and Noah. They wanted to hear about my experience and I wanted to hear about what went on in their lives these past 3 months. One thing we talked about that seems to really be reoccurring with me is the topic of risk taking. By risk I pretty much mean trust and when I mean trust I mean trust in the Lord. Jed shared a time this summer when he felt like God was really calling him to something but it ended up not working out.
Think about how often we are too worried about what God has put on our heart. As if we don't interpret what He said the right way. We are so afraid of failure because we think failure in what God told us to do is a bad thing and that others can look down upon. When in reality it could just be a big lesson that God has put together this whole time, to help you realize something else. Maybe at the time it didn't make sense but in the big picture God has laid out for us it was right on.
We always seem to have a "back up" plan for what God has in store for us. We Trust in that direction but we numerous back up plans just in case God's doesn't work out. Are we saying that God's plans aren't good enough for us? That we have to have God's back just in case He gets messy with us? Noah talked about how one day we will be in Heaven talking to God about it and it might go a little something like this...
You: Hey God. Did you see how I trusted in your plan?
God: Yeah and I appreciate the trust you had but what about the "back up plans" you had just in case I didn't pull through for you? You really didn't fully trust in that I would take care of you. You didn't lay it on the line knowing that if it wasn't exactly the way you had planned that I would somehow still take care of you.
We need to risk sometimes. We have to know that God has our back. He is the God of the Universe. The Beginning and End. It might not make sense or seem right in our eyes but in God's the plan is going exactly the way He wants it to.
In his heart a man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9
Monday, August 9, 2010
question answer
It has been a while since I was last on here. I have been busy getting to know a new session as well as trying to spend as much time with the property staff and interns as I can. I am facing a dilemma. I only have 3 days left here. This place has become a second home to me. The people have become my community. My time here has ran by me without looking back. All I can do now is appreciate the last times I will have as well as cherish the memories.
Some of my favorite times for sure have been intern fun nights. Each week on day 3 we get to spend a nigh of fun with the fellow interns. Some of the past fun nights include an iron chef competition, kayak water polo, redneck games and playing hockey with the Beyond Malibu staff. It is in these times that we share smiles with each other. We get to purposely love on one another. Throughout the summer I have also had the great privilege to lead a Bible study day 5. It has definitely been on of my highlights. I love being able to share the gospel and my ideas with friends.
As the summer comes to a close I have to look forward to going to school. Though it seems like a downside there is much positive that is to come. At WSU we are starting our second year of college young life and I am excited to see what God has in store. I am also looking forward to staying with four awesome guys in a house off campus. The house is an amazing deal and I look forward to see how God uses it for His ministry.
For the past 18 mornings the guy interns and I have been getting up before breakfast and chomping on the Word. We generally get up at around 7. We are going through Psalm 119, 8 verses a day, for 22 days. The Psalm focuses on the law and how we need to meditate and delight in them. The point of the bible study isnt so much the scripture itself but rather the point of establishing a habit. Getting up every morning and starting it off with God's word and prayer. It might make me a little more tired but it has been an amazing way to start every day off.
"... who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." Galatians 1:4
He has rescued us from our present evil age. As we stand in this age we are a light. Evil cannot touch us because of the will of our Father. I love the word rescued. It just rings so true to me. I look back to this summer and the things that God has blessed me with. I don't know where I would be if God hadn't rescued and taken hold of me and it just blows me away.
At the end of the week of our last camp Colton and I were asked to do a question and answer session for two girl cabins. The girls wrote down questions anonymously for us to look at and give them answers. Questions ranged from "What do you do when a guy doesn't text you back?" to "How important is sex to a guy?". It was a great time though. It gave Colton and I the opportunity to let them know what a Godly guy is like. It gave them the sense that there are guys who really do care for them.
From this session I drew one thing... these girls live in an evil age. The girls asked a lot of questions along the lines of looks and how much that meant to guys. I reassured them that the initial attraction does sometimes have to do with outward looks but a lot of "good" guys are looking far beyond that. I told them that as you get to know the irresistible qualities of a girl she becomes more and more beautiful in your eyes. It might sound cheesy but it is the truth to me. Overall the session was amazing and meant way more to those girls then to me.
Some of my favorite times for sure have been intern fun nights. Each week on day 3 we get to spend a nigh of fun with the fellow interns. Some of the past fun nights include an iron chef competition, kayak water polo, redneck games and playing hockey with the Beyond Malibu staff. It is in these times that we share smiles with each other. We get to purposely love on one another. Throughout the summer I have also had the great privilege to lead a Bible study day 5. It has definitely been on of my highlights. I love being able to share the gospel and my ideas with friends.
As the summer comes to a close I have to look forward to going to school. Though it seems like a downside there is much positive that is to come. At WSU we are starting our second year of college young life and I am excited to see what God has in store. I am also looking forward to staying with four awesome guys in a house off campus. The house is an amazing deal and I look forward to see how God uses it for His ministry.
For the past 18 mornings the guy interns and I have been getting up before breakfast and chomping on the Word. We generally get up at around 7. We are going through Psalm 119, 8 verses a day, for 22 days. The Psalm focuses on the law and how we need to meditate and delight in them. The point of the bible study isnt so much the scripture itself but rather the point of establishing a habit. Getting up every morning and starting it off with God's word and prayer. It might make me a little more tired but it has been an amazing way to start every day off.
"... who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." Galatians 1:4
He has rescued us from our present evil age. As we stand in this age we are a light. Evil cannot touch us because of the will of our Father. I love the word rescued. It just rings so true to me. I look back to this summer and the things that God has blessed me with. I don't know where I would be if God hadn't rescued and taken hold of me and it just blows me away.
At the end of the week of our last camp Colton and I were asked to do a question and answer session for two girl cabins. The girls wrote down questions anonymously for us to look at and give them answers. Questions ranged from "What do you do when a guy doesn't text you back?" to "How important is sex to a guy?". It was a great time though. It gave Colton and I the opportunity to let them know what a Godly guy is like. It gave them the sense that there are guys who really do care for them.
From this session I drew one thing... these girls live in an evil age. The girls asked a lot of questions along the lines of looks and how much that meant to guys. I reassured them that the initial attraction does sometimes have to do with outward looks but a lot of "good" guys are looking far beyond that. I told them that as you get to know the irresistible qualities of a girl she becomes more and more beautiful in your eyes. It might sound cheesy but it is the truth to me. Overall the session was amazing and meant way more to those girls then to me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)