Brady Boyd’s Monday Morning Prayer
I copied this from Cristi Murgu’s blog… I liked it and thought you all might too..
Brady Boyd’s Monday Morning Prayer
Posted on October 6, 2009 by murgsy
Dear God,
It’s Monday, but I am sure you’re already aware of that fact. I hope you were pleased with what happened at church yesterday. By the way, thanks for being there. Church is always better when you attend. I hope you felt honored and I did not hinder people from meeting you personally. I realize I am already rambling here, but you know how tanked I feel on Sunday afternoons and on most Mondays. Why can’t I be one of those pastors who are hyped after a service instead of one who feels like a can of Spam? Talking to people about you should be the easiest thing I do, but instead it takes every bit of my energy. Maybe it’s because we have an enemy who does not want people to hear the truth. I think Jesus mentioned something about birds eating the seeds off the ground as soon as it is scattered. I probably should pray more for these talks, so please remind me this week to do just that. I do not want any birds hanging around New Life next weekend.
Lord, help me not to notice the empty seats more than I see the faces of people sitting in the occupied chairs. I do want to pray for new people to attend New Life and fill the empty seats, but I also want to be a good shepherd to those who are there. Remind me on Sundays, when the attendance is a little down, that my popularity is not the reason people are gone. Sometimes, I take it personally, but you already know that, don’t you? Remind me regularly that we live in Colorado and on Sundays, when the weather is perfect, some people go to the park or to the mountains or to both. That is ok, because they can still listen to the talk online or by podcast. By the way, thanks for all the cool new technology that allows us to communicate and stay connected. Most people don’t give you the credit, but I know where great ideas come from.
Lord, help me to not be so aggravated when people give me immediate criticism about the Sunday talk. They should wait a day or so to give me their opinion but they don’t and probably never will. Forgive them Lord, because they have no idea how vulnerable and tired I feel right after a service. They have never been on a stage in front of people talking about life and death issues. When you give them that chance, I am sure they will then be more considerate about when to give their feedback.
Lord, help me not feel like every Sunday has to be “the best Sunday ever, in all of church history.” Not every talk has to be epic and not every worship service has to be “off the chain.” Remind all of my pastor friends on Twitter not to hype every weekend like it is the Super Bowl of all church weekends, every single week. You know that every Sunday service is not that great, because you attend their churches, too. Help us to build disciples with our weekend gatherings and not to create consumers who expect a new and improved product every weekend.
Lord, thanks again for allowing me to pastor New Life and to spend my life serving your bride. I do love her and hope you come back soon to find her spotless and without wrinkles. Keep me focused on the important things and help me to ignore my own carnality. Thanks for the time. I hope to talk to you again real soon.
Love,
Brady
The comfort of the atributes of God
About 3 weeks ago, i was waiting at the airport with a friend. It was a long wait about 12 H (we didn’t spend them all at the airport, myself and the friend who’s wife we were waiting for). That gave both of us some time to do some reading. My friend has to do some reading on some thick theology book and i gave them a try too. This is what i wrote down from that time. This might be a long post, so I might split it in two, will see… and there will be no Romanian translation on it…
ETERNITY – is the confidence that God has never, not will ever cease to exist therefore His sustaining, providentioal control of all things and events is assured.
FREEDOM – God is not obligated to us in any way unless He chooses to initiate an obligation. He cannot be in our debt.
HOLINESS – the absolute, innate holiness of God means that siners have to be separated from Him, unless a way can be found to constitute them holy. And thata wya has been provided in the merits of Jesus.
IMMUTABILITY – it offers the comfort and assurance that God’s promises will not fail.
LOVE – God who is love allows Himself to love sinfull people. That is grace. In trials God shows His love towards His people.
OMNIPOTENCE – for the believers God’s power relates to the Gospel(Rom 1:16), to his security (1 Pet.1:15), to his hope of bodily resurrection (1Cor 6:14), and to daily living (Eph 1:19).
OMNIPRESENCE – the believers can practice God’s presence in every circumstance.
OMNISCIENCE – nothing will come out to light that will cause God to cast us out. God does not warn us only guessing what will happen, He knows! He always knows what ultimate good and glory will come out of event we cannot understand. Sobriety ought to characterize all when they realize that they must stand before an all-knowing God.
RIGHTEOUSNESS – there is no action He takes that violates any code of morality or justice.
SIMPLICITY – God as a Triune Being is not divisible or composed of parts or multiple substances. It enables us to worship Him in spirit not in material ways since he is Spirit.
The rest of it will come in part 2. I hope it encourages you as it does me!
Definition/ Definitie
“A woman’s heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man has to seek Him first to find her.”
I found this quote on a blog and really liked it. It made me react in two ways: YES that’s true, that would lead to felicity in marriage; and it made me SAD, cause from what I see around me in the evangelical world, not many men are looking for that and not many women have their hearts hidden so deeply in Christ.
“Inima unei femei ar trebui sa fie asa de ascunsa in Hristos ca un barbat trebuie sa Il caute mai intai pe Hristos ca sa o poata gasi pe ea.”
Am gasit citatul acesta pe un blog si mi-a placut tare mult. M-a facut sa reactionez in dua feluri : DA, e adevarat! asta ar duce la adevarata fericire in casatorie; si m-a intristat pentru ca din ceea ce observ eu in lumea evanghelica inconjuratoare nu multi barbati cauta astfel de femei, si nu multe femei sunt asa de ascunse in Hristos.
Complaning
Philipians 2:14 says: “Do all things without grumbling or questioning”.
Chris Silard said: “When we justify our complaining, we are crossing out the word all from this command. … When we grumble and question and complain, we have become God’s judge. We have told Him at least two things:
- You are not enough for me. I cannot be content with things the way they are. This difficulty is too great for me to respond to in a way that pleases You. You are deficient and ultimatly You do not satisfy me. I want a different God.
- You are not wise. If I were You, God, I would do things differently. You should have consulted me before You allowed this difficulty in my life of before You chose to keep that good thing from me that I want and don’t have.”
I was very convicted by these words and the truth of them. Is there really any good reason not to trust HIM? Today I got into a very minor car accident, it shook me up as I am just learning how to drive, but it also made me think, instictivly “what was God doing when that big car was backing into me?” My driving instructor said wisely “He was there, nothing happens if our Father doesn’t send it.” And as I thought of that, i realized He was there helping me deal with it, not letting me make it worse, saving my life, and who knows what else he has in plan for the days to come as a result of my little adventure?! So right now i choose to trust God that He knows what He is doing and not complain about what happend. HE is GOD! not I.
WHO is like YOU?
Domnul este taria mea si cantecul meu
El s-a facut mantuirea mea
EL este Dumnezeul meu
Si-l voi lauda Il voi inalta
Cine-I ca Tine? Maret in sfintenie,
Minunat in slva si facator de minuni?
Prin iubirea Ta de neclintit
vei calauzi pe cei ce-i rascumperi
prin taria Ta ii vei conduce
in locasul Tau cel Sfant
Cine intre dumnezei e ca Tine?
Cine in tot cerul?
cine-i ca Tine?
Maret in sfintenie minunat in slava
facator de minuni?
building a deposit of wisdom
I am still reading the book Did I kiss marriage goodbye? by Carolyn MacCulley and she is talking in one of her chapters of the way we women either kill or edify with our words. How we need to be prepared in speaking words of wisdom and to be able to do that we need to have buit in a deposit in us, so that we can draw from them as needed. And here she quots C.J. Mahaney and so will I:
- ” Memorize the gospel. “All God’s promises and commands are precious but those verses that tell us of the Son of God who gave His life in our place are the most precious of all” “
- Pray the gospel ” There’s nothing complicated about this. To pray the gospel, simply begin by thanking GOd for the blessing of eternal life, purchased throught the death of His Son. Acknowledge that Christ’s work on the cross is what makes our very prayer possible.”
- Sing the gospel “A Christian heart should be brimming everyday with the song of Calvary… there are countless worship CDs available but it’s important to choose ones that draw our attention to the amazing truth of what God has done on our behalf.”
- Review how the gospel has changed you. “Even if your story doesn’t involve drugs or immorality, it’s still a miracle of God’s grace. Your didn’t write it by yourself, God intervined . God changed your heart. God saved you. Take time to think about that.”
- Study the gospel “Never be content with your current grasp of the gospel. The gospel is life- permiating, world – altering, universe- changing truth. It has more facets than any diamond.”
Inca citesc cartea Am zis eu adio casatoriei? de Carolyn MacCulley si ea vorbeste intr-unul din capitole despre felul in care noi femeile fie ucidem sau zidim prin cuvintele noastre. Vorbeste despre cum trebuie sa fim pregatite in a vorbi cuvinte pline de intelepcine si ca sa fim in stare sa facem asta trebuie sa ne facem niste depozite de intelepciune in noi, in asa fel incat sa putem scoate din ele cand e nevoie. Si ea citeza aici pe C.J. Mahaney si asa voi face si eu:
- Memorati evanghelia “Toate promisiunile si poruncile lui Dumnezeu sunt pretioase, dar acele versete care vorbest depsre Fiul lui Dumnezeu care si=a dat viata in locul nostru sunt cele mai pretioase.”
- Rugati-va evanghelia “Nu e nimic complicat cu privire la asta. Ca sa te rogi evanghelia, incepe pur si simplu prin a-I multumii lui Dumnezeu pentru binecuvantarea vietii vesnice cumparate prin moartea Fiului Sau. Recunoaste ca lucrarea lui Hrisots la cruce este cea care face chiar rugaciunea aceasta posibila.”
- Canta evanghelia “Inima uni crestin ar trebui sa de-a pe dinafara de cantecele Calvarului. … Sunt nenumarate CD-uri de inchinare disponibile dar este important sa le alegi pe acelea care iti atrag atentia asupra adevarului uimitor a ceea ce Dumnezeu a facut in locul nostru, pentru noi.”
- Recapituleaza cum te-a schimbat evanghelia “Chiar daca povestea ta nu include drogurile sau imoralitatea, este totusi un miracol la harului lui Dumnezeu. Nu tu ti-ai scris povestea singur, Dumnezeu a intervenit. El ti-a schimbat inima. Dumnezeu te-a mantuit. Fa-ti timp sa te gandesti la asta.”
- Studiaza evanghelia “Nu fii niciodata multumit cu cat stii acum despre evanghelie. Evanghelia este un adevar care impregneaza viata, transforma lumea, schimba universul. Are mai multe fatete decat orice diamant.”
Beauty/ frumusete!
“God’s definition of beauty stands in stark contrast to the way our culture defines beauty. Our culture defines beauty by how we look on the outside. God defines beauty by what we are like on the inside.
Our culture puts forth a standard of beauty that is unattainable by most. God puts forth a standard of beauty to which we can all attain if we just respond to His work of grace in our lives.
Our culture encourages women to cultivate a beauty that will only last for a brief time. God encourages women to cultivate a beauty that will never fade and that will only grow more attractive with the passing of time.
Our culture calls us to cultivate a beauty that impresses others. God summons us to cultivate a beauty that is first and foremost for His eyes.
Our culture entices us to aspire to the beauty of the latest glamorous model of this season’s most popular actress. God bids us to aspire to the beauty of holy women in the past who put their hope in God.
Do you see the difference? The beauty our culture esteems may turn some heads, but the beauty God calls us to cultivate will make a lasting impact. When a physically attractive woman walks by, we notice – men particularly! But that’s the end of it. Her beauty makes a fleeting, momentary impression. But a woman who cultivates inner beauty, who fears God and lives to serve others, makes a difference in people’s lives. Her beauty makes a lasting impact on the lives she touches. Godly, inner beauty makes an indelible mark on the lives of others and glorifies God.”
Carolyn Mahaney
“Definitia lui Dumnezeu despre frumusete sta in contrast cu felul in care cultura noastra defineste frumusetea. Cultura noastra defineste frumusetea prin felul in care aratam pe dinafara. Dumnezeu defineste frumusetea prin felul in care suntem pe dinauntru. Cultura noastra pune un standard de frumusete care nu poate fii atins de cei mai multi. Dumnezeu pune un standard de frumusete spre care putem tinti cu totii daca raspundem doar la lucrarea harului sau in vietile noastre.
Cultura noastra incurajeaza femeile sa cultiveze o frumusete care va dura doar o vreme scurta. Dumnezeu incurajeaza femeile sa cultiveze o frumusete care nu va pierii si care va creste tot mai atragatoare cu trecerea vremii. Cultura noastra ne cheama sa cultivam o frumusete care sa impresioneze pe altii. Dumnezeu ne indeamna sa cultivam o frumusete care e mai intai de toate pentru ochii Lui.
Cultura noastra ne momeste sa aspiram la o frumusete ca a ultimului model glamour sau a ultimei actrite in voga. Dumnezeu ne cheama sa aspiram la frumusetea sfintelor femei din trecut care si-au pus nadejdea in Dumnezeu.
Vedeti diferenta? Frumusetea pe care o cinsteste culutra noastra s-ar putea sa intoaca cateva capete, dar frumusetea la care ne cheama Dumnezeu va avea un impact care sa dainuiasca. Cand trece o femeie atragatoare din punct de vedere fizic o observam- mai ales barbatii. Dar numai atat. Frumusetea ei este trecatoare, o impresie momentana. Dar o femeie care cultiva frumusetea interioara, care se teme de Dumnezeu si traieste pentru a sluji altora, va produce o diferenta in vietile oamenilor. Frumusetea ei are un impact care dureaza in vietile pe care le atinge. O frumusete interioara, evlavioasa lasa un insemn de neconfundat apsupra vietilor altora si il glorifica pe Dumnezeu.”
Carolyn Mahaney
John 11:25/ Ioan 11:25
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whosoever believes in me, even if they die they will live”
“Eu sunt invierea si viata. Cine crede in mine, chiar daca ar muri va trai!”
So how should we live in the light of this truth? What is it that we consider the worse thing that could happen to us? Death right? I mean we can recover from most things in some way of another, we can go on even if we are debilitated and damaged, but we consider that we are done for when we die. Death is the end of life here as we know it. Yet Jesus tells Mary and Martha at the tomb of they brother that He is the resurrection and life. That even if, and as one of my professors used to say, death is the surest statistic 100% of 100 will die, if we die, if we believe in Him we will live. We will be with HIM for eternity in a place where life is truly life and death is no more. So how should that make us live? i won’t tell you, u can comment on it!
Deci cum ar trebui sa traim in lumina acestui fapt? Care este lucrul pe care il consideram ca ar fi cel mai rau din cate ni se pot intampla? Moartea, nu? Adica, ne revenim, mai mult sau mai putin din cele mai multe lucruri, chiar daca suntem lasati incapacitati si defecti, cu mari probleme si daune, dar consideram ca moartea ne este sfarsitul. Moartea este sfarsitul vietii asa cum o stim noi. Totusi Isus le spune Mariei si Martei la mormantul fratelui lor ca El este invierea si viata. Ca chiar daca, si asa cum spunea un profesor de al meu, moartea este cea mai sigura statistica, 100% dintr-o 100 mor, murim vom trai. Vom fi cu El in vesnicie intr-un loc in care viata este chiar viata si unde moartea nu mai este! Deci cum ar trebui sa ne faca lucrul acesta sa traim? Nu va spun eu, va las sa comentati voi!
voi canta
.:: Ekklesia – Voi canta ::.
Doamne`mi pari indepartat
Chiar ani lumina sau un mai
lung drum
Desi credinta mi`am pastrat
Marturisesc acum nu ma mai
simt ascultat
Dar nu stiu ce sa mai spun
Si nu stiu a`nainta
Insa Harul ce`l primesc
Imi schimba inima.
ref: Voi canta , te voi
lauda
Chiar in ceasul cel mai rau
Prin durere si prin greu
Voi canta , te voi lauda
Mainile le`am ridicat
Fiindca esti adevarat
Voi canta….
Nu pot sa intrezaresc
Gandul Tau si`al Tau plan
ceresc
Doar in Tine`am sa ma`ncred
Stiind ca ai murit,sa ma
salvezi
Dar nu stiu ce sa mai spun
Si nu stiu a`nainta
Insa Harul ce`l primesc
Imi schimba inima.
ref: Voi canta , te voi
lauda
Chiar in ceasul cel mai rau
Prin durere si prin greu
Voi canta , te voi lauda
Mainile le`am ridicat
Fiindca esti adevarat
Voi canta….
