What if God were a political candidate? Who would run against Him? It would be political suicide to take God on at the polls. You KNOW He would win.
What if God were in charge of the universe? Who would challenge His authority? It would be spiritual suicide to take God on at running life. You KNOW He is ultimately in charge.
Back up one paragraph. Isn’t this our basic problem? We want to run our own lives, not let God do it. He is the final authority, so it is about God, not about me.
Prayer: God, help me today to call you Lord of All. By your Spirit’s work in me, may I gladly follow - not attempt to lead - You.
Tim Gramly
Education Pastor
SHBC
March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
I love it when God uses Print Preview in my life. When God wants me to see what is in my heart, He does have His ways. If He just hit Print, I’d be in trouble. Oh, I would sure see what is in there, but I’d be embarrassed before my time. It is so much more gracious to have that sneak peek and the option to correct before the thing is out in the open, in plain sight.
When the Print Preview next pops up on your screen and you don’t like what you see, thank God for the inconvenience of short delays. Good thing He chooses occasionally to reach over your shoulder and tap a button while you are working.
“Help me do it right, God” is a lot less problematic than, “I really messed this one up, Lord.”
Tim Gramly
Education Pastor
SHBC
March 17, 2009
When the Print Preview next pops up on your screen and you don’t like what you see, thank God for the inconvenience of short delays. Good thing He chooses occasionally to reach over your shoulder and tap a button while you are working.
“Help me do it right, God” is a lot less problematic than, “I really messed this one up, Lord.”
Tim Gramly
Education Pastor
SHBC
March 17, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Trip
Someone has said this to you. “Grace!” Of course they were referring to your less than graceful movement. Their verbal barb was no extension of grace to you. Just the opposite.
Pointing out each other’s faults is easy enough to do. Those stick out sufficiently for effortless viewing.
Seeing folk’s finer qualities may necessitate a more determined look. Extending grace to the people in your life will often mean over-looking their mistakes and on occasion revealing your own.
I have been reminded recently that our values are seen in what we actually do, not just in the words we mouth. Behavior is measurable content. So, trip all over yourself this week imparting grace to others. Your movement will flatter your Lord.
Tim Gramly
Education Pastor
SHBC
March 10, 2009
Pointing out each other’s faults is easy enough to do. Those stick out sufficiently for effortless viewing.
Seeing folk’s finer qualities may necessitate a more determined look. Extending grace to the people in your life will often mean over-looking their mistakes and on occasion revealing your own.
I have been reminded recently that our values are seen in what we actually do, not just in the words we mouth. Behavior is measurable content. So, trip all over yourself this week imparting grace to others. Your movement will flatter your Lord.
Tim Gramly
Education Pastor
SHBC
March 10, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Figs
My mother-in-law tells the story of relocating to California as a young girl, moving to a new home and seeing a fig tree for the first time. The fruit was something her mother enjoyed, seemed to eat quite a few figs, but as a young lassie, she still declined to eat them. Her mom definitely liked figs, but she wasn’t interested herself – not in that shriveled up, ugly looking, odd shaped, dark thing. No thanks.
My mother-in-law avoided eating figs until she had surpassed the 6 - 0 mark. (She is now past the 7 - 5 mark and don’t tell her I told you or I may never reach my next birthday.) Then she tried her first. Amazingly, she liked them! And after all those years of not eating figs! Now she regrets all the missed opportunities to eat fresh figs right off of the tree. What a pity; what a shame.
You are thinking what I’m thinking, right? Come on now. I know you and I are headed in the same direction. Let me guess: Is there anything in life God has for you and I that we have (up until now) refused to taste? Will we later regret our tardy arrival on this leg of our Spirit-guided journey? What are we presently stubbornly resisting which later we will decide was a matchless blessing? Cumquat, anyone? Rutabaga?
Tim Gramly
Education Pastor
SHBC
March 3, 2009
My mother-in-law avoided eating figs until she had surpassed the 6 - 0 mark. (She is now past the 7 - 5 mark and don’t tell her I told you or I may never reach my next birthday.) Then she tried her first. Amazingly, she liked them! And after all those years of not eating figs! Now she regrets all the missed opportunities to eat fresh figs right off of the tree. What a pity; what a shame.
You are thinking what I’m thinking, right? Come on now. I know you and I are headed in the same direction. Let me guess: Is there anything in life God has for you and I that we have (up until now) refused to taste? Will we later regret our tardy arrival on this leg of our Spirit-guided journey? What are we presently stubbornly resisting which later we will decide was a matchless blessing? Cumquat, anyone? Rutabaga?
Tim Gramly
Education Pastor
SHBC
March 3, 2009
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