Simple Thoughts

Check out these verses. Leviticus 10:8-11 Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying: "Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. [It shall be] a statute forever throughout your generations, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by the hand of Moses.” God was speaking to Aaron telling him for the priests not to be drinking wine or alcohol when they were ministering to the Lord. To distinguish between the holy and unholy, clean and unclean… and to be able to teach. So if we are ALL priests..... 1Peter 2:9 But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Then we have to be able to distinguish between holy an...

On Monday, July 6, 2009, my mom took the 6 boys to Lake Ella. It was getting dark like a storm was approaching and it was extremely windy. As they were sitting at a picnic table eating McDonalds “happy meals,” Joel (age 6) randomly exclaimed, “We need to pray!” My mom was slightly amused, but said okay and had all the boys close their eyes. Joel squinted his eyes very tightly and said, “God… Why are you angry? I want to play in the pool today. And please protect my sister on the airplane. Amen.” My mom thought that maybe he was joking around, but when she peeked her eyes open, she realized he was very intense and serious with his eyes squinting tightly shut. When my mom told me this story, we all chuckled at how cute it was, and my first thought in my mind was to ask my mom if she told him that God wasn’t angry. But then I realized something. How did I know God wasn’t angry? If He was, why was he angry? That is a part of God’s heart we often shy away from. Why on earth would I tell ...

Isa 59:15b - …Then the LORD saw [it], and it displeased Him That [there was] no justice. Isa 59:16 - He saw that [there was] no man, And wondered that [there was] no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. Isa 59:19 - So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. I stood watching during the altar time of our Wednesday night service. Russ and the praise team sang, “Make us a generation that will change our nation.” Up at the front were kids who had come down to pray and worship. They were there either because they were called down or because they wanted to. Once parents began coming in, and kids saw they were dismissed, the number up front began to dwindle. I looked up and realized the kids up front were in a straight line in front of the stage, for the length of...

From the journal of Michelle Polston (Voran) in 2001 Ya know, sitting in my room, by my window, I’m watching the rain. I hear the rain. I could even stick my head out and feel the rain to a degree. But I don’t think I’ve actually experienced the rain unless I went downstairs, went outside, and stood and danced in the rain to become fully saturated with the wetness that rain can bring. I have this overwhelming urge right now to go play in the rain. As a matter of fact, I could cry I want to go play in the rain so much. I’m just staring out the window. From time to time, I hear thunder rolling in the distance or I see a lightning flash. I think so many people, whether it be with Praise & Worship or even with experiencing God… some are content just being a spectator, seeing it happen behind a closed window. Other people also enjoy just listening and watching. Others are willing to stick their heads out and get partially wet, to feel a little bit, and to be able to say th...

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"...

Contentment: A Thought Now Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:6-11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content; Philippians 4:11 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty not riches – Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal...

Some thing they are spiritually hungry when they have a newly awakened interest in the things of God. But awakened interest is not yet hunger. Buying a book on a Kingdom topic is good, but it is not yet hunger. Hunger is when we cannot live without more, when we make radical alterations to our lifestyle in order to pursue God. A good way to measure the reality of our hunger is to measure the extent to which we rearrange our lives, our time, our money and our comforts to pursue that for which we hunger. -Dana Candler “The Rewards of Fasting” http://ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?ID=1000036187 (Free e-book online) You say you are hungry. You say you are desperate. Really? Are you? Is it just a feeling that goes away? Or is it a deep inner longing that says you cannot go on with life as normal? You must have more. You must have Him. Mark 5 describes a woman who was truly desperate. She had a flow of blood for twelve years. She had spent all she had on doctors and they didn’t make h...