Current Readings

It's Christmas break, and I finally found myself at a computer. First off, I freakin love Christmas.(enough said) But my favorite part about Christmas is 2 things, Jesus & Christmas morning breakfast...my Nana knows how to fill a lonely stomach on a joyful morning. Did I mention the elf? If you don't like the Elf, something is wrong with you.

OKAY! to the good stuff....

I finally have a chance to catch up with some reading, like most of you I am sure, I try to read one book at a time but somehow end up with 3? Go figure... Well I just finished one book but I am currently reading 3 books(set aside the Bible, which is always in use)

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.

I have read this book before but, rereading it has been a whole new experience and I would highly suggested it if you want to better understand how to enjoy the Lord's presence.  One of my favorite passages from it so far (considering I am only on pg 30)

"That the most excellent method he had found of going to God was that of doing our common business without any view of pleasing men and purely for the love of God. That it was a great delusion to think that the times of prayer ought to differ from other times; that we are as strictly obliged to adhere to God by action in the time of action as by prayer in the time of prayer. That his prayer waws nothing else but a sense of the presence of God, his soul being at that time insensible to everything but divine love; and that when the appointed times of prayer were past, he found no difference, because he still continued with God, praising and blessing Him with all his might, so that he passed his life in continual joy."

The book is all of 110 pages long and is a to the point, encouraging, but challenging book by a monk.

The other I am reading is Sex Is Not The Problem, Lust Is by Joshua Harris, this book is highly recommened for all the men out there, in terms of understanding the obvious title and understanding the true intentions that God has placed inside of us.  And also how much God is after our hearts and how much he wants our undivided passions. 

 

So I know I said I am reading three books, but the third is a devotional, in which i'll always be reading but the third is a book called Radical, which a friend gave me and I REALLY REALLY want to start reading it but I know I have to finish these two first!

I would recommend these both and if you read this and have any books to recommend I am always in need of stocking my book shelf, coming from a guy who hated reading up until my first year of college, go figure! If you could also be praying for two friends.  One is in Africa and has been the last 5 months and is on a mission trip that was totally a God thing.  And the other is in Haiti for a week, just be praying that there times there are blessed and especially safety.

Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."

He anticipates our needs

"Thou, O God, has prepared of Thy goodness for the poor."

I read this a couple nights ago and i finally get it now that i went through it...let me elaborate....
This weekend my bank account went...lets just say.... Low! ha, But it wasn't until after I threw a pity party for myself that I realized why it happened.  Asking questions such as where is my true identity? Who am I trusting? and what is coming about from this?  It is so easy to compare ourselves to the world and when we don't measure up, we lose focus on God, we allow our Joy to be stripped away and seem to be lost.  I was upset nonetheless, but that was the last thing God wanted me to do.... I ended up talking with my pastor and he went on to explain.... That I should have Joy in this situation for the fact that God brought this up in my life, and that my identity isn't in this world, it is not in my money or who supports me financially.  But trusting in Him..(provers 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, don't lean on your own understanding.") It was a perspective that is hard to look at in times of need and struggle but...God is good.  After our talk, God blessed me in a way that was by His timing and His alone.  My pastor and good friend, Kenny, reached for a sticky note on his desk, pulled it off and shook it like a polaroid pitch and told me someone named Jim needed some yard work done and that I could have it if I wanted.  How could I have ever doubted Him? Isn't it funny how we as humans think we are in the right more often than not? that we see ourselves better than we really are?  Thank goodness for His Grace.

All God's gifts are prepared gifts laid up in store for wants foreseen. He anticipates our needs; and out of the fulness which He has treasure up in Christ Jesus, He provides of His goodness for the poor. You may trust Him for all the necessities that can occur, for He has infallibly foreknown every one of them. He can say in all conditions, 'I knew that thou wouldst be this and that.' A man goes on a journey across the desert, and when he has made a day's advance, and pitched his tent, he discovers that he wants many comforts and necessaries which he has not brought in his baggage. "AH!" he says, "I did not foresee this: if I had this journey to go again, I should bring these things with me, so necessary to my comfort." But God has marked with prescient eye all the requirements of His poor wandering children, when those needs occur, supplies are ready. It is goodness which He has prepared for the poor in heart, goodness and goodness only. "My grace is sufficient for thee." "As thy days, so shall thy strength be."

To-Do lists

Well, today I counted and I have 9 days of studying left and 4 days of class... including finals.  The things that need to be done in my life have officially exceeded the length of my to-do list.  As I start my Monday(with so much enthusiasm) I am already feeling weighed down by the stress of the things that need to be done from...white elephant gifts, to grocery shopping, to studying(big one) to getting ready for Christmas, Oh did I mention bible studies? I don't know where I would be without a To-Do list....

I am sure you are reading this and saying, Scott, really? that is ALL you have to do? ....Yes, but everyones gauge is a little different in terms of being overwhelmed.  Today before I even look at my list or start my day in terms of the things on that list, I wanted to post something that is mostly for me and may help you today as well....

The realization of how self we all are....for instance, my "To-Do" list is MY! list, not yours or yours or his.... Today I am making it my goal to put at least 1 thing on my list that doesn't involve what I have to do... whether it be serving someone, being a listening ear, I am waiting for the Lord to show me, but I would encourage you to find something on your list or in your day that isn't involving you.

Romans 15:3 "For even Christ didn't live to please Himself....."

Excuse me, may I ask you a question?

If you were to die within 24 hours, where would you be Heaven or Hell?

Jesus says in John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life, and will not be condemned, he has crossed over from death to life."

John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying."