(February 4, 2011)
Prayer House News!
Our second CORE focus will be on the Knowledge of God. It will start this coming Sunday.
=============================================
Devotional!
The Valley of Decision
That which determines where it is we are dwelling is the valley that separates Jerusalem from the Mount. The valley of Jehosaphat, or the valley of decision,
I believe, is the valley of the shadow of death that King David refers to in his famous 23rd Psalm.
Psalm 23:4 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Obviously the valley that David refers to does not necessarily have to be a literal valley. He could be simply referring to a difficult time in his life. However, the valley of Jehosaphat is littered the with the grave-sites of those who wanted to be buried there so that they could be there when the resurrection takes place. There is a little bit of conjecture in my reference here. However, David would often go to the Mount of Olives to pray subsequently, he would often have to pass through this valley. David crossed this brook bare-foot and weeping, when fleeing from his own son Absalom (2 Sam 15:23,30). This valley is a major geographical point or place throughout the Bible.
David’s rod and staff would comfort him as he passed through. This leads us to believe he was referring to a physical place as he passed through. He would literally depend upon his staff to help him get through the valley in the dark of the night. The rod and staff are also a type of Holy Spirit. The rod for correction, the staff for support: two of the functions of the Spirit of God.
Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
Do you see it yet? The only way through this valley of decision is with the assist of the Holy Spirit. I believe the Spirit of God is calling our church to this same point of decision. The only way to get from the flesh-life to the spirit-life is by making a willful decision to pass through this valley of death and to die to the old way of living.
This valley is also known as the valley of judgment. The Valley of Jehoshaphat means; "Yahweh judgeth." Just before Jesus left the earth he said that it would be to our benefit for Him to leave, because along with Him leaving, the Holy Spirit would come, and when He comes he will “convict.” He will convict concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Conviction is all the judgment the Christian needs to face. When we are faced with conviction we are placed smack dab in the middle of this valley of judgment and decision. Judgment in the sense that we are under conviction – we know the things that we do that are not right with God. And now that we are under conviction – we have a decision to make. We can look at Jerusalem and gaze upon the kingdom of man or we can turn and look at the Mount of Olives, the kingdom of God.
Here’s the challenge - the kingdom of the world loves your sin. It loves and even promotes an ungodly lifestyle. It’s very enticing in the midst of sinful activity. It will justify all your activities. It accepts all your logic as to why you feel you need to live with sinful, unrighteous, activity. When the disciple said, “Jesus, look at these marvelous buildings,” Jesus immediately said, “Forget it, don’t get drawn in to the glamour of this world. Not one of these stones will be left upon another.” He then quickly walked them over to the Mount of Olives, and from the vantage point of spirituality, he said, “The kingdom of God is more than wood, hay, and stubble. It is love, peace, and righteousness. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory.” It’s the life of the spirit. What is your decision?
We are in the valley of the shadow of death. We are being asked to lay down our flesh life and to pick up the spirit life. Lay down the flesh – walk over to the Mount of Olives and enter into a life spent with Jesus. A life of praying, fasting, teaching and preaching. Don’t you want to be used by God? Don’t you believe it is much more important to understand the Spirit of God than to merely try to figure out when Jesus is coming back?
The prophet saw – in the spirit – multitudes in the valley of decision.
Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
=========================================================
Medication: A Merry Heart
Euphemisms For Being Stupid
A brick short of a load.
A couple of eggs shy of a dozen.
A couple of gallons short of a full tank.
A few ants short of a picnic.
A few bricks short of a pile.
A few bricks short of a wall.
A few cards short of a deck.
A few clowns short of a circus.
A few feathers short of a whole duck.
A few fries short of a Happy Meal.
A few peas short of a casserole.
A few tomatoes short of a good thick sauce.
A few trucks short of a convoy.
A fortune cookie short of a Chinese dinner.
A pepperoni short of a pizza.
A few sandwiches short of a picnic.
About as bright as a burnt-out 20 watt light bulb.
An experiment in Artificial Stupidity.
As much use as an ashtray on a motorcycle.
As quick as a tortoise on Prozac.
As smart as bait.
As useful as a screen door on a submarine.
As useful as a wooden frying pan.
Bright as Alaska in December.
Doesn't have both oars in the water.
Doesn't have all his cornflakes in one box.
Doesn't have all his dogs on one leash.
Doesn't have all the dots on his dice.
Dumb as a corn cob.
Dumb as a stump.
Dumber than a bag of rocks.
Elevator doesn't quite make the top floor.
Fell out of the family tree.
Forgot to pay his brain bill.
Goes surfing in Nebraska.
Golf bag doesn't have a full set of irons.<
Got into the gene pool when the lifeguard wasn't watching.
Has an IQ of 2, but it takes 3 to grunt.
He fell out of the Stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down.
He is so dumb, the only thing he ever read was an eye-chart.
He played too much without a helmet.
He's got a mind like a steel trap, rusted shut.
He's got a leak in his think-tank.
He's got a mind like a steel sieve.
He's got his feet firmly planted 3 feet above the ground.
He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
He's so dense light bends around him.
His belt doesn't go through all the loops.
His cheese has slipped off his cracker.
His porch light ain't on.
If brains were chocolate, he wouldn't have enough to fill an M&M.
If brains were dynamite, he wouldn't have enough to blow his nose.
If brains were dynamite, he wouldn't have enough to blow his hat off.
If brains were gasoline, he couldn't ride a moped around a fruit loop.
If brains were taxed, he'd get a rebate.
If he had a brain, he'd be dangerous.
If he had another brain, it would be lonely.
If stupid were a talent, he would be considered gifted.
Isn't firing on all 6 cylinders.
Isn't firing on all thrusters.
Like a pair of children's scissors, bright and colorful, but not too sharp.
Mind like a rubber bear trap.
Needing a few screws tightened.
Not firing with all spark plugs.
Not the brightest light in the harbor.
Not the brightest light on the Christmas tree.
Not the sharpest hook in the tackle box.
Not the sharpest pencil in the box.
Off his rocker.
On/off switch is stuck in the off position.
One Fruit Loop shy of a full bowl.
One taco short of a combination plate.
One turbine short of an airplane.
One-celled organisms outscore him in IQ tests.
Proof that evolution CAN go in reverse.
Requires directions to lay sod.
Room temperature IQ.
Running about a quart low.
Running on empty.
Sharp as a bowling ball.
She's not tied too tight to the pier.
Strong like bear, smart like tractor.
Takes him 1-1/2 hours to watch 60 minutes.
The elevator is stuck between floors.
Too dumb to pull his head in before he shuts the window.
Too many yards between the goal posts.
Two hub caps short of a Buick.
Warning--Objects in mirror are dumber than they appear.
Was left on the tilt-a-whirl too long as a baby.
Prayer House News!
Our second CORE focus will be on the Knowledge of God. It will start this coming Sunday.
=============================================
Devotional!
The Valley of Decision
That which determines where it is we are dwelling is the valley that separates Jerusalem from the Mount. The valley of Jehosaphat, or the valley of decision,
I believe, is the valley of the shadow of death that King David refers to in his famous 23rd Psalm.
Psalm 23:4 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Obviously the valley that David refers to does not necessarily have to be a literal valley. He could be simply referring to a difficult time in his life. However, the valley of Jehosaphat is littered the with the grave-sites of those who wanted to be buried there so that they could be there when the resurrection takes place. There is a little bit of conjecture in my reference here. However, David would often go to the Mount of Olives to pray subsequently, he would often have to pass through this valley. David crossed this brook bare-foot and weeping, when fleeing from his own son Absalom (2 Sam 15:23,30). This valley is a major geographical point or place throughout the Bible.
David’s rod and staff would comfort him as he passed through. This leads us to believe he was referring to a physical place as he passed through. He would literally depend upon his staff to help him get through the valley in the dark of the night. The rod and staff are also a type of Holy Spirit. The rod for correction, the staff for support: two of the functions of the Spirit of God.
Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
Do you see it yet? The only way through this valley of decision is with the assist of the Holy Spirit. I believe the Spirit of God is calling our church to this same point of decision. The only way to get from the flesh-life to the spirit-life is by making a willful decision to pass through this valley of death and to die to the old way of living.
This valley is also known as the valley of judgment. The Valley of Jehoshaphat means; "Yahweh judgeth." Just before Jesus left the earth he said that it would be to our benefit for Him to leave, because along with Him leaving, the Holy Spirit would come, and when He comes he will “convict.” He will convict concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Conviction is all the judgment the Christian needs to face. When we are faced with conviction we are placed smack dab in the middle of this valley of judgment and decision. Judgment in the sense that we are under conviction – we know the things that we do that are not right with God. And now that we are under conviction – we have a decision to make. We can look at Jerusalem and gaze upon the kingdom of man or we can turn and look at the Mount of Olives, the kingdom of God.
Here’s the challenge - the kingdom of the world loves your sin. It loves and even promotes an ungodly lifestyle. It’s very enticing in the midst of sinful activity. It will justify all your activities. It accepts all your logic as to why you feel you need to live with sinful, unrighteous, activity. When the disciple said, “Jesus, look at these marvelous buildings,” Jesus immediately said, “Forget it, don’t get drawn in to the glamour of this world. Not one of these stones will be left upon another.” He then quickly walked them over to the Mount of Olives, and from the vantage point of spirituality, he said, “The kingdom of God is more than wood, hay, and stubble. It is love, peace, and righteousness. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory.” It’s the life of the spirit. What is your decision?
We are in the valley of the shadow of death. We are being asked to lay down our flesh life and to pick up the spirit life. Lay down the flesh – walk over to the Mount of Olives and enter into a life spent with Jesus. A life of praying, fasting, teaching and preaching. Don’t you want to be used by God? Don’t you believe it is much more important to understand the Spirit of God than to merely try to figure out when Jesus is coming back?
The prophet saw – in the spirit – multitudes in the valley of decision.
Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
=========================================================
Medication: A Merry Heart
Euphemisms For Being Stupid
A brick short of a load.
A couple of eggs shy of a dozen.
A couple of gallons short of a full tank.
A few ants short of a picnic.
A few bricks short of a pile.
A few bricks short of a wall.
A few cards short of a deck.
A few clowns short of a circus.
A few feathers short of a whole duck.
A few fries short of a Happy Meal.
A few peas short of a casserole.
A few tomatoes short of a good thick sauce.
A few trucks short of a convoy.
A fortune cookie short of a Chinese dinner.
A pepperoni short of a pizza.
A few sandwiches short of a picnic.
About as bright as a burnt-out 20 watt light bulb.
An experiment in Artificial Stupidity.
As much use as an ashtray on a motorcycle.
As quick as a tortoise on Prozac.
As smart as bait.
As useful as a screen door on a submarine.
As useful as a wooden frying pan.
Bright as Alaska in December.
Doesn't have both oars in the water.
Doesn't have all his cornflakes in one box.
Doesn't have all his dogs on one leash.
Doesn't have all the dots on his dice.
Dumb as a corn cob.
Dumb as a stump.
Dumber than a bag of rocks.
Elevator doesn't quite make the top floor.
Fell out of the family tree.
Forgot to pay his brain bill.
Goes surfing in Nebraska.
Golf bag doesn't have a full set of irons.<
Got into the gene pool when the lifeguard wasn't watching.
Has an IQ of 2, but it takes 3 to grunt.
He fell out of the Stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down.
He is so dumb, the only thing he ever read was an eye-chart.
He played too much without a helmet.
He's got a mind like a steel trap, rusted shut.
He's got a leak in his think-tank.
He's got a mind like a steel sieve.
He's got his feet firmly planted 3 feet above the ground.
He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
He's so dense light bends around him.
His belt doesn't go through all the loops.
His cheese has slipped off his cracker.
His porch light ain't on.
If brains were chocolate, he wouldn't have enough to fill an M&M.
If brains were dynamite, he wouldn't have enough to blow his nose.
If brains were dynamite, he wouldn't have enough to blow his hat off.
If brains were gasoline, he couldn't ride a moped around a fruit loop.
If brains were taxed, he'd get a rebate.
If he had a brain, he'd be dangerous.
If he had another brain, it would be lonely.
If stupid were a talent, he would be considered gifted.
Isn't firing on all 6 cylinders.
Isn't firing on all thrusters.
Like a pair of children's scissors, bright and colorful, but not too sharp.
Mind like a rubber bear trap.
Needing a few screws tightened.
Not firing with all spark plugs.
Not the brightest light in the harbor.
Not the brightest light on the Christmas tree.
Not the sharpest hook in the tackle box.
Not the sharpest pencil in the box.
Off his rocker.
On/off switch is stuck in the off position.
One Fruit Loop shy of a full bowl.
One taco short of a combination plate.
One turbine short of an airplane.
One-celled organisms outscore him in IQ tests.
Proof that evolution CAN go in reverse.
Requires directions to lay sod.
Room temperature IQ.
Running about a quart low.
Running on empty.
Sharp as a bowling ball.
She's not tied too tight to the pier.
Strong like bear, smart like tractor.
Takes him 1-1/2 hours to watch 60 minutes.
The elevator is stuck between floors.
Too dumb to pull his head in before he shuts the window.
Too many yards between the goal posts.
Two hub caps short of a Buick.
Warning--Objects in mirror are dumber than they appear.
Was left on the tilt-a-whirl too long as a baby.
0 comments:
Post a Comment