Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Olympics - Update

New Zealand and Norway both have a bronze medal in the Olympic Games. New Zealand's medal came this morning in the Equestrian Three-Day Eventing:

New Zealand Wins Bronze!

GO KIWIS!!


I went to Cambridge High School with this guy - the legend, Mark Todd


Norwegian, Alexander kristoff won his bronze in cycling:





Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Reason Why God Has Secrets

A few days ago I posted HERE some of the hiding places of God. Here are the reasons why God has secrets - not to exclude us from knowledge, but to draw us closer to Him, so we would know Him and be more like Him.

The reasons why God has secrets:

1.   So that through the revelation of God’s secrets and plans we would know His ways and learn how to be obedient.

Deut. 29:29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

This is the definition of obedience


2.   His secrets are our protection against the enemy.

Ps. 27:5-6   5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Ps. 91:1

There is no safer place than being under His wings


3.  So that we would have confirmation of His Lordship, and that He is Lord over Israel.

Isa. 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.

He is the Lord of All


4.   So that we might be filled with the Glory of God, and so we will be like Him.

1Cor. 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory (for our glorification, that is, to lift us into the glory of His presence.  Amp.)

We try so hard to be like our Father... 



   



5.   So that the devil, his angels or ungodly leaders would not know the great plans of God and stop them.

      1Cor. 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

It is important to see and understand
God's great plans

God's 5 secret hiding places: HERE

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Olympic Games!!!



YAY!!! The Olympics have started!!! I am so excited. I am cheering for USA, Norway, New Zealand, Curacao, all the nations of our WAC students, and all the nations we visit from time to time.

Here is the New Zealand 1500 runner Nick Willis (who is a Christian!) bringing in the New Zealand flag. He is wearing the traditional Maori Te Mahutonga Cloak:



Already this morning, the New Zealand rowers Hamish Bond and Eric Murray have smashed the world record in their heat - Go KIWIS! They are expected to medal in this event:


I am SO EXCITED!!

Friday, July 27, 2012

7 Things - From Great to Greater


1. We must tell of God’s great salvation from day to day - Ps. 96:2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day

2. …And even Israel’s enemies will celebrate the Lord from year to year -  Zech. 14:16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

3. …And we must praise the Lord from everlasting to everlasting - 1Chr. 16:36 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!

4. …Because as we praise Him, we go from strength to strength - Ps 84:7 They go from strength to strength; every one of them comes before God in Zion.


5. …So that we will see his salvation and His dominion from generation to generation - Is. 51:8 But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation from generation to generation. (Dan. 4:3)

6. …As we live and proceed from faith to faith - Rom. 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."



All of the above principles prepare us for the glory of God - we need to walk in these 6 so that we can go from glory to glory!!  

7. …And when we look at His glory, we will be changed into His image from glory to glory - 2 Cor. 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

God's Hiding Places

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Ps. 91:1

The Lord has secret places where he seems to "hide" Himself. When we hide, we are trying to conceal ourselves from people. The Lord, however, hides in order to draw us in to Himself. We are unable to receive the full magnificence of his presence, so He needs to hide layers of His beauty so that we can move in to Him a little at a time.

God hides in darkness to teach us to see Him
Ps. 18:11   He made darkness his secret (hiding) place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.



God hides in thunder to teach us to hear His voice
Ps. 81:7   You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. (contention)  Selah.



God hides in His presence to teach us how to receive His touch
Ps. 31:20   You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues.

You hide them in the safety of your presence from the plots of others; in a safe shelter you hide them from the insults of their enemies. (Good News Translation)



God hides in His tabernacle (where there is incense) to teach us how to smell Him His tabernacle (where there is incense) to teach us how to smell Him
Ps. 27:5   For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. (NLT)





God hides in the side of His mountain (Upward journey) to teach us how to taste and see that He is good
Song 2:14   "O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely."

It is here that we come to His banqueting table for His banner over us is love (Song 2:4)



The reason why God has secrets: HERE

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Lifting Hands

I can find 12 different uses for the lifting of hands
outlined in scripture:
   
1.    Supplication (A humble prayer of request.)
Ps. 28:2 Hear the voice of my supplications...when I lift my hands...
Also Ps. 88:9; Lam. 2:19; Is. 1:15 (Amp.)

2.    Repentance (A prayer of contrition or penitence)
Lam. 3:40-41 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.  Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

3.    Praise and blessing God

Ps. 63:4 So will I bless Thee while I live; I will lift up my hands in your name.  Also Neh. 8:6; Ps. 134:2

 4.    Worship

Ps. 44:2 If we have stretched out our hands to a strange God... This scripture is talking about the worship of false Gods; however, we also may lift our hands as we worship our King.

5.    Thirsting or seeking after God
Ps. 143:6 I spread forth my hands to you; my soul thirsts after you like a thirsty land.

6.    Prayer habit

1 Tim. 2:8 I desire that in every place men should pray...lifting up holy hands
Also 1 Ki. 8:22; 8:38; 8:54; 2 Chron. 6:12; 6:19; Ps. 141:2; Is. 1:15

7.    Warfare


Ex. 17:11-12  "When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed."

8.    Seeking, and as a sign of, divine power
Ex. 9:15  ...I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee...

Also Ex 7:19; 8:5-6; 5:17; 9:22; 9:29; 10:21-22; 14:16; 14:26-27; Num. 20:11

9.    Meditation
Ps. 119:48 My hands also will I lift up...and I will meditate on Thy statutes

10.  To bless others
Lu. 24:50 And lifting up His hands He invoked a blessing on them.  Also Lev. 9:22

11.  Making a solemn declaration or oath  (As in a modern day court of law.)

Deut. 32:40 For I will lift up my hand to heaven and swear as I live forever...
Also Gen. 14:22; Is. 62:8; Dan. 12:7

12.  A sign of the heart

Heb. 12:12 Lift up the hands that hang down.
Also Neh. 8:6; Job 11:13; Lam. 3:41



Saturday, July 21, 2012

Dance Before The Lord

As we are heading off toCharlotte, NC  Dance Camp today I wanted to post something about worship dance. Here are a few of the verses in the Word that show dance as a means to worship the Lord:


The Dance of Victory and Celebration
Exodus 15:20-21 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbals and with dances.
And Miriam answered them: "Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously!  The horse and the rider He has thrown into the sea!"


The Dance of Worship
2 Sam. 6:16-23 As Kind David brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, he worshiped and danced with abandon before the Lord.
Ps. 149:3 Let them praise His name with the dance...


The Dance of Joy
Ps. 30:11 You have turned my mourning in to dancing


The Dance of War
Heb. 2:8-9 The Lord has put all things under His feet
Rom. 16:20 The Lord will cause satan to be crushed under our feet
Col. 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. The Greek word for "triumph" here is thriambeunuo, which means, "to make a loud procession." This is a march of victory following the battle. The Lord invites us to join HIm in this victory dance over all evil.



The Prophetic Dance
1 Sam. 18:6-7 This is a prophetic song and dance by the women of Israel - David had just defeated one man (Goliath), but these women were singing, dancing and rejoicing over victories that would come in the life of this great King.


Once we release dance in our churches, there will be a breaking of bondages in so many other areas of church life. Freedom comes as we use our feet and hands to worship the Lord.
...and here is the prettiest little dancer of them all:

Shya Simone Peterson - June 2012All decked out for her first dance class

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Be Careful What You Say...


Look at some of the things famous people have said over the years....

"Man will never reach the moon regardless of all future scientific advances."
-- Dr. Lee DeForest, "Father of Radio & Grandfather of Television."



"The bomb will never go off. I speak as an expert in explosives."
- - Admiral William Leahy , US Atomic Bomb Project



"There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the atom."
-- Robert Millikan, Nobel Prize in Physics, 1923



"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
-- Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949



"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
-- Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943



"I have travelled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year."
--The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957



"But what is it good for?"
-- Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.



"640K ought to be enough for anybody."-- Bill Gates, 1981

This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us,"
-- Western Union internal memo, 1876.



"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?"
-- David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s.



"The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a 'C,' the idea must be feasible,"
-- A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. 
(Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)



I'm just glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling on his face and not Gary Cooper,"
--Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in "Gone With The Wind."



"A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say
America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make,"
-- Response to Debbi Fields' idea of starting Mrs. Fields' Cookies.


"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out,"
-- Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.



"Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible,"
-- Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895.



"If I had thought about it, I wouldn't have done the experiment.
The literature was full of examples that said you can't do this,"
- - Spencer Silver on the work that led to the unique adhesives for 3-M "Post-It" Notepads.



"Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You're crazy,"
-- Drillers who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil in 1859.



"Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau."
-- Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University , 1929.



"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value,"
-- Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre, France .



"Everything that can be invented has been invented,"
-- Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, US Office of Patents, 1899.



"The super computer is technologically impossible.
It would take all of the water that flows over Niagara Falls 
to cool the heat generated by the number of vacuum tubes required."
-- Professor of Electrical Engineering, New York University



"I don't know what use any one could find for a machine that would make
copies of documents. It certainly couldn't be a feasible business by itself."
-- the head of IBM, refusing to back the idea, forcing the inventor to found Xerox.



"Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction."
-- Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872



"The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will forever be shut from
the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon,"
-- Sir John Eric Ericksen, British surgeon, appointed Surgeon-Extraordinary to Queen Victoria 1873.


And last but not least..."There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
-- Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Definitions of Worship

Here are some fabulous definitions of worship:


  • Louie Giglio: Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God for who He is, and what He has done; expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live.
  • Josh Riley: Worship is everything we think, everything we say, and everything we do, revealing that which we treasure and value most in life.
  • John Piper: Worship is what we were created for. This is the final end of all existence-the worship of God. God created the universe so that it would display the worth of His glory. And He created us so that we would see this glory and reflect it by knowing and loving it-with all our heart and soul and mind and strength. The church needs to build a common vision of what worship is and what she is gathering to do on Sunday morning and scattering to do on Monday morning.
  • Mark Driscoll: Worship is living our life individually and corporately as continuous living sacrifices to the glory of a person or thing.
  • Harold Best: Worship is the sign that in giving myself completely to someone or something, I want to be mastered by it.
  • Warren Weirsbe: Worship is the believer’s response to all they are – mind, emotions, will, body – to what God is and says and does.
  • William Temple: Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His Beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose – and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.
  • David Peterson: Worship of the living and true God is essentially an engagement with him on the terms that he proposes and in the way that he alone makes possible.
  • A.W. Tozer: To great sections of the church the art of worship has been lost entirely, and in its place has come that strange and foreign thing called the ‘program.’ This word has been borrowed from the stage and applied with sad wisdom to the type of public service which now passes for worship among us.
  • William Barclay: The true, the genuine worship is when man, through his spirit, attains to friendship and intimacy with God. True and genuine worship is not to come to a certain place; it is not to go through a certain ritual or liturgy; it is not even to bring certain gifts. True worship is when the spirit, the immortal and invisible part of man, speaks to and meets with God, who is immortal and invisible.
  • John Frame: Redemption is the means; worship is the goal. In one sense, worship is the whole point of everything. It is the purpose of history, the goal of the whole Christian story. Worship is not one segment of the Christian life among others. Worship is the entire Christian life, seen as a priestly offering to God. And when we meet together as a church, our time of worship is not merely a preliminary to something else; rather, it is the whole point of our existence as the body of Christ.
  • John Piper: Strong affections for God, rooted in and shaped by the truth of Scripture – this is the bone and marrow of biblical worship.
  • Vivien Hibbert: Worship is a journey into God

Go HERE and HERE for more definitions of worship

Dance Camp

Name: Dance Camp

When: July 22 - 27 2012

Where: Charlotte NC

Website: Dance Camp

Why: Awesome teaching and wonderful times in the presence of God each evening





Be Filled With The Holy Spirit



When we are filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 6:3; 11:24), there are 7 other things that fill our lives:

Acts  2:28 He makes us full of joy in His presence
Acts  6:3 He makes us full of wisdom
Acts  6:5 He makes us full of faith
Acts  6:5 He makes us full of power
Acts  9:36 He makes us full of good works
Rom. 15:14 He makes us full of goodness
Rom. 15:14 He makes us full of knowledge