This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive) that we have put our hope in the living God who is the Savior of all, and especially of those who believe.
1 Timothy 3:9-10
Today is the release of the new film: The Grace Card. The opening weekend is always important for any film. This film is truly worthy of your attention. I highly recommend this film and encourage all my friends to see the film - and then take someone with you to the movie this weekend.
Here is the trailer:
Looking forward to seeing your comments about this movie....
This video greatly encouraged me today. I strongly encourage my friends who are pastors - or in ministry - to take the time to watch and draw from these truths. If you are too busy to stop for nine minutes - trust me - you NEED TO HEAR THIS!
Justin Blaney sits down with Wayne Cordeiro from New Hope Christian Fellowship to discover what lessons Wayne learned while pulling through a 3 1/2 year recovery from major burn out.
Today was a quiet day at the office with the YMCA off for President's Day. I took a short break and went to the web site of the Huffington Post. I enjoyed the President's Day postings on their site:
The first one I enjoyed was the newly revised Hall of Presidents at Disney World
Then I really enjoyed this article:
Happy Presidents Day! If you're like us, you'd rather spend today remembering our former commanders-in-chief for the ridiculous things they did rather than the groundbreaking things they did. Take FDR for example: sure, he made some phenomenal changes to our nation, but did you know he also had a movie credit? Or take Abraham Lincoln and JFK: should we remember them for ending slavery or inspiring a generation? Or should we honor them for winning a wrestling match and getting into Harvard despite a shoddy application, respectively?
With all those fascinating tidbits out there, we just had to update our slide show from last year to tell you everything you didn't know about U.S. presidents' quirks, pets, hobbies, vices and more. Click to enjoy the show!
We will worship the Lord with the preaching of God's Word. This Sunday at NRN we welcome Doug Whitley as he brings a powerful portrayal of Rev. E. M. Bounds. Here is the introduction to his message:
Call on God .... God will hear .... God will answer.
Yesterday - February 13, 2011 - was a special day for me as I celebrated the anniversary of my birth. I was so special to have my grand daughters Alyse and Breeley visiting us. I was overjoyed by the amazing number of comments on my Facebook page with well wishes for my birthday. Thanks to Dr. Parker for bringing our announcement time at church to a halt to announce my birthday and hear everyone sing to me. WOW it was so moving. I was speechless for a few moments. Here are some of my reflections from the last few days:
I loved spending time with Breeley. Each night I sat in a rocking chair as I fed her a bottle and held her in my arms until she fell asleep. These are times we hold dear. She brings a big smile to my face.
It was such a double blessing to have Alyse and Breeley visiting us.
We surprised the girls on Saturday morning by taking them to the circus at the RBC Center in Raleigh.
Pictures usually tells a thousand words but no pictures could catch the excitement and fun we experienced with the girls.
At one point I caught this picture of "grammy" and Breeley watching the show very intentionally:
And Alyse said her favorite part was the elephants and the beautiful ladies.
When I arrived at my office at the church on Sunday morning, there was an envelope with a card inside. I think it summarizes how I feel about this birthday:
A "buzz" around the media today is the commercials from last Sunday evening during the Super Bowl game.
I love the "Life Comes At You Fast" and "Wanna Get Away" commercials. They are so funny, yet so true. We laugh at the calamities of the unsuspecting victims along with the screw-ups of the not-so-bright.
But life does come at you fast and sometimes you do want to get away, but not always because you messed something up or stuck your foot in your mouth.
James 4:14 reminds us that this life is just a "mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." So what will we do with that 'little while' that we do have here.
I don't know about you, but I want to get away, not to a better life, but to a life that finishes well, this 'little while' that I am here on earth. Recently in a time alone with God I made a decision that it was time to purge my life of all the unneeded items that clutter my inward self.
As I have been typing this out, I have been listening to Francesca Battistelli's song, Beautiful, Beautiful. Our dear friend Melissa sang this song at church and I went out to purchase the CD to hear it over and over.
The lyrics speak so deeply to my heart, that God would take me and make me something more than I could ever be on my own. I want my life to be something beautiful for His Glory.
Don’t know how it is You looked at me And saw the person that I could be Awakening my heart Breaking through the dark Suddenly Your grace Like sunlight burning at midnight Making my life something so Beautiful, beautiful Mercy reaching to save me All that I need You are so Beautiful, beautiful I have come undone But I have just begun Changing by Your grace
I want Him to continue to change me by His grace, purging all the impurities and unnecessary junk out of my life.
Because 'life does come at us fast' and we should 'wanna get away' from whatever is holding us back from serving Him with this 'little while' that we are here.
Psalm 126:1-3 "When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, 'The LORD has done great things for them.' The LORD has done great things for us, And we are glad."
Proverb 17:22 "A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones."
Ecclesiastes 3:4 "(To everything there is a season) . . . a time to laugh . . ."
Job 8:21, 22 "He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, And your lips with rejoicing. Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing."
Luke 6:21 "Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh."
Insight: The Bible promotes laughter and says it does good. It can be a reward and a blessing from God. Enjoy times of laughter because it's a gift from God.
Prayer: "Dear Lord, thank you for laughter. Thank you for giving us opportunities to see things in a funny way. Help us to have a light heart. Remind us that You are faithful. Increase our faith in You and our love for You and for others. Help us to laugh and to make others laugh, so we can be blessed. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Today is Ground Hog Day 2011. The Prognosticator of Prognosticators, Punxsutawney Phil, once again appeared at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob in the Pennsylvania Wilds to make his annual prediction.
Phil surveyed his surroundings and found no shadow, so an early spring it will be!
What does a sleepy, furry marmot have to do with seasonal change? According to fans of Punxsutawney Phil, everything! But why?
The story of Groundhog Day begins with Candlemas, an early Christian holiday where candles were blessed and distributed. Celebrators of the holiday eventually declared clear skies on Candlemas meant a longer winter. The Roman legions, during the conquest of the northern country, brought this tradition to the Germans, who concluded that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, a hedgehog would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of bad weather or "Second Winter." German immigrants brought the tradition to Pennsylvania, but how did Punxsutawney Phil emerge?
In 1887, a spirited group of groundhog hunters from Punxsutawney dubbed themselves "The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club." One member was an editor of Punxsutawney's newspaper. Using his ink, he proclaimed Punxsutawney Phil, the local groundhog, to be the one and only weather prognosticating groundhog. He issued this proclamation on Candlemas, and yes, Groundhog Day. Phil's fame spread, and newspapers from around the globe began to report his Gobbler's Knob prediction. Today you will find 20,000+ in attendance and millions watching on television or via the web.
