Simple Thoughts

Exodus 15:1 (NKJV) Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!" This verse is resounding in my spirit today. Especially the phrase, "The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!" At first, I didn't understand why it was in my spirit. Then I began to contemplate on the situation. The Israelites had stepped out in faith. They had left the known and stepped out into the unknown journey of faith. But then they came to a brick wall (or at least a sea of water )that separated them from their promise of freedom. What made it worse, the army from the life they knew and left was swiftly approaching to take them back into captivity. The captivity that they knew. But God! God not only parted the sea to let the Israelites journey on dry land to reach the other side safely, but he destroyed the army ...

God has had us in a season of faith in regards to our finances. God is providing but it is keeping us in prayer.  Just to be real, I had a moment in a store today. I had gone in to buy a Christmas present for someone. As I was there, I thought back to when we had more money and how I would have been able to spend more and get a nicer gift for that someone. Right as I was having a pity party and a momentary "this really stinks!", I looked up and saw a piece of art for sale. It was decorative wall art. It obviously was to go in a beach house and it said "Paradise ain't cheap." I immediately thought of the story of the rich, young ruler (Luke 18). God told him to sell everything he had, give the money to the poor, and follow Him. The guy didn't do it and he walked away sad. Jesus wanted the guy to make an eternal investment and wanted his obedience. Costly obedience. I smiled when I saw that art. It was like a sign from heaven reminding me ...

Today God reminded me that there are things that I began praying for and never saw through.   I was in worship this morning and thought to myself, "gee, it would really be awesome if (insert old prayer request)." I felt like God replied, "Why did you stop praying?" So I immediately replied, "Nothing happened!" And then I heard it again... "Why did you stop praying?" I discussed it with Adam on the way home from church and said a phrase that didn't seem to make sense initially that just kind of jumped out of my mouth without my thinking it through.   Then I kept talking and realized the phrase made perfect sense.   I told Adam, "I have gotten tired of hearing the silence so I stopped praying. It's the kind of silence that echoes!" Silence that echoes? Did I just say that? What on earth does that mean? And then I continued.   "It's like a hall full of doors and I have been banging on them for s...

I have been doing a Bible reading plan for a little while. I have even been doing it in a version of the Bible that I do not normally read to get a different perspective.   I love it and highly recommend beginning one if you aren't on one.   Today when I read Exodus 5 in my daily reading, the heading of the chapter really stuck out to me.   The heading was "Making Bricks Without Straw." I knew I would be reading about the Israelites when Pharaoh made their work even harder after Moses and Aaron initially asked him to let the Israelites leave.   The heading jumped off the page to me though.   I think many people can relate to it.   Ever feel like you are having to make bricks... and not just your normal make bricks... Having to make bricks without straw provided?   Just when you think life couldn't get any harder or more difficult... it does.   A lot harder.   Before we get to the bricks without straw, I want to hig...

Background: Before bed in prayer on Sept 29, 2012, I felt totally overwhelmed.   I knelt down to pray and I realized the song on the ipod shuffle was "Worth it all" by Rita Springer. Good song. In prayer, a phrase came to mind. "Secrets to climbing Mount Everest" I googled that phrase and found a website about training to climb Mount Everest.   On the page, in addition to technical training, it had this paragraph that really stuck out to me.   Psychological and Physiological Requirements Perhaps one of the toughest things about climbing a mountain like Everest is keeping motivated for months. Plan to spend a lot of time in your tent, waiting for the opportunity to go higher on the mountain. Be aware that you probably will be socked in by strong weather for at least part of the time, weather that can intimidate you and weaken your reserve. You may have climbing mates who get sick, have to descend without you, or worse (heaven for...

I had the privilege of speaking at my church this Sunday.  I spoke about on a phrase/paragraph the Lord gave me - "The Secrets to Climbing Mount Everest." Here is the link to the audio: Secrets to Climbing Mt. Everest

Genesis 18 and 19 are fascinating chapters in regards to responses of God's judgment.   Almost everyone has heard of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.   I have read these chapters before many times.   However, when I read them yesterday and today, I noticed things that I hadn't noticed before.   (I love it when God does that!) In Genesis 18, three men walk up to Abraham's tent.   Two of them are angels and one is Jesus, revealing Himself as a man in the Old Testament.   (Pause for a minute and think about how cool that is!) They hang out with Abraham.   Abraham makes a meal for them and Jesus prophesies that Abraham and Sarah will have a child.   (This is the scene that made Sarah famous for laughing.) After the laughing incident, the men got up to leave and Abraham walked with them a bit.   Then Jesus decided to share a secret with Abraham.   He did not want to hide what He was doing from him.   So Jesus told Abraham ...