"Strengthen the Feeble Hands, Steady the Knees That Give Way."
Archive for July, 2010
Getting Through
Jul 29th
There I was, sitting comfortably, not much on my mind, no deep thoughts, when hundreds of long, floppy, blue tentacles suddenly approached and surrounded me. Soon gushes of water threatened me from all sides, and I wondered what bruising or bashing would come next.
Darkness took over. I heard pounding at my door, pressing at my windows, scraping on my roof. The noise was very methodical—pound, press, scrape, pound, press, scrape again and again. I had come in a bit worse for the wear, in need of being made clean, but this was scary. Good grief! What would happen next?
Then, through the ebbing turbulence I heard the sweet chirping of birds and soothing piano music. Yes! Hope was near.
Ah, relief! The swirling had ceased and the frothing settled, all grime was washed away in their wake. The light at the end of the tunnel broke through and I was safe.
To walk this life is to be spattered by its seamy side. To live as part of fallen humanity is to stumble, to lose sight of the real certainties. Too often we allow despair to take up residence as a permanent squatter without offering so much as a whimper of opposition, because More >
De Ninguna Manera Mayor
Jul 27th
Si eres dado a la bondad, mansedumbre y dulzura, muchos pensarán que eres débil. Y si verdaderamente eres bondadoso, manso y dulce, tu única defensa será una mayor bondad, mansedumbre y dulzura. No importa lo que sufras no rindas lo que el Espíritu ha hecho nacer en ti por lo que el mundo llama – fuerza. Puedes estar tentado a rendirte y ser amargado, egoísta y cruel – para ser más como ellos.
No lo hagas!
En cambio, corresponde su odio con amor, corresponde sus groserías con gracia, su veneno con palabras dulces. “No seas vencido de lo malo; mas vence con el bien el mal.” (Rom. 12:21) Mientras decides ten en mente que así es como trataron a tu Señor y el siervo no es mayor que el Señor (Jn. 3:16; 15:20).
Tomar la decisión de amar cuando se encara el odio no es fácil cuando el mundo proclama autoprotección e individualismo. No tiene sentido en un mundo de bestias hablar de un evangelio de debilidad. De hecho, puede dejarte pisoteado, con moretones, y raído pero la verdad de Dios prescribe mansedumbre, la mansedumbre ejemplificada de Cristo, es ineludible. El mandato es claro – “Bendecid a los que os persiguen; bendecid, y More >
By No Means Greater
Jul 24th
If you are given to kindness, to meekness and gentleness, many will think you weak. And if you are truly kind, meek, and gentle, your only defense will be greater kindness, meekness, and gentleness. No matter what you suffer do not surrender what the Spirit has born in you for what the world calls—strength. You may be tempted to give in and grow bitter, self-serving, or harsh—to become more like them.
Don’t do it!
Instead, return their hatred with love, return their rudeness with grace, their venom with sweet words. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). As you make your choice keep in mind this is how they treated your Master and the servant is by no means greater than the Master (Jn. 3:16; 15:20).
Making the choice to love in the face of hate is not easy when the world proclaims self-protection and individualism. It makes no sense in a world of brutes to speak of a Gospel of weakness. In fact, it may leave you trampled, bruised, and threadbare but the truth of God’s prescribed meekness, of Christ’s exemplified meekness, is inescapable. The command is clear—“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not More >
Romans Chapter 12 – Memorization
Jul 22nd
“…in view of God’s mercy…”
Please join me in memorizing Romans 12. Take it a page at a time in this mini book if you need to. Come “hide” His word in your heart that you might not sin against Him.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rom. 12:1-2
Romans Chapter 12 Audio File (NEW)
Mini Book Folding Instructions
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