Daily Devo: Common Ground
Our Daily Bread had a timely devo this morning. I had left a comment yesterday that wasn’t trying to belittle vegetarians, but just have fun with my brother-in-law. It’s interesting to imagine trying to lead a vegetarian to Christ.
In the devo, that’s exactly what Paul did. He took the perspective of the people he was with and began making his way to Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me new friends and coworkers this year. Help me to walk in their shoes so that the path to you would be easier.
Author: Brett Veenstra | Category: Disciple | Comments(0) September 2006
Daily Devo: There’s Heaven
Did an ODB today.
The devotion was on the real place called heaven, and focused on the some of the physical elements that are shown to us now through the book of Revelation. I just can’t help thinking that this passage as it refers to the New Jerusalem is symbolic in nature. The other unfortunate part is that I can imagine something looking nice, I just can’t imagine it with the eyes of John. I mean, I don’t even know what Jasper looks like (until a little Googling)!
I suppose I just have a “non-optimal view” of heaven lately. It’s not like I don’t WANT to goto heaven. In fact, the notion, of just “being” with Jesus is very comforting, but just heard to envision. I guess that’s why we call it faith.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live in this reality, serving you. Help me remember the next reality of being with you.
Author: Brett Veenstra | Category: Disciple | Comments(0) September 2006
Daily Devo: Something for Nothing
Our Daily Bread just rocks.
This one centered on the hollow satisfaction of material things. I couldn’t agree more. I have always found it amazing that looking forward to getting something is so much greater than the actual USE of that something. Be it computer, flat-screen TV, video game, clothing, etc etc – the satisfaction just doesn’t stay. Maybe I’m just such a wretch that I find the down side (or the catch?) quickly. I know that even if I bought a Mac, it would still happen!
More importantly is my lack of wanting to get satisified by what God has for me, in His timing.
Prayer: Lord please help me to freely accept your Grace through Jesus. Amen.
Author: Brett Veenstra | Category: Disciple | Comments(0) September 2006
Daily Devo: Abiding in Love
Did a little Devotions.net today. The reading was one of those where I think western (logic) culture translations doesn’t mix with eastern (wholistic) culture well.
The takeaway of the devo is how Jesus is thhe means through which we humans learn about God. It reminded me of the first part of John, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” It’s amazing to think the Bible is the masterpiece of the Holy Spirit’s work pointing to Jesus, and how Jesus points to the Father. The devo had a story about an amazing discovery once some light was shed in an ancient building.
My biggest challenge is feeling that because I know I’m not loving at times (mostly), I must not be a Christian. Very logical. Or maybe I am being loving, but just don’t “feel” loving. All very confusing sometimes. When you read the context of the verse, I don’t really get much help – if I have fear, then I must not think God loves me – “there is no fear in love”. So I guess this just means this is my growth area!
Prayer: Father, please help me to love like your Son. Spirit take over my mind so that I can love others better.
Author: Brett Veenstra | Category: Disciple | Comments(0) September 2006
Daily Devo: Indecency Confronted
So this morning I switched things up with a broader Google search of daily devotion. Desiring God sounded interesting and then it lead me to an article on why using sexuality in a public context is damaging to us as individuals and as a society.
Just another conservative viewpoint bashing the mature liberals? Not really, John Piper lays out 9 points that make a lot of sense and he didn’t reference the Bible once in his argument. From a Christian perspective that’s troubling because I feel that Biblical truth is the only kind that only gets stronger in an argument, but when you read it, you’ll understand.
The point of growth in the article for me is that all too often I try filter something or avoid something because I can feel that it is not good for me or my family. What I do not do however is ever revisit those moments to try and develop a rationality that I can latter teach to my kids or argue publicly.
Since this devo didn’t contain any Bible reading, I went with an old standby pattern. Reading the “Proverb of the Day”… since it’s September 2, I read Proverbs 2. I had to laugh at the timing of God – this proverb deals with wisdom, turning from evil, and turning away from the immoral woman.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for putting your spirit within me to guard me from damaging influences. Please keep me from laziness and remind me of the truth of your word to guide me, my family, and encourage my friends.
Author: Brett Veenstra | Category: Disciple | Comments(0) September 2006