Reminder about new blog address

Just wanted to remind you that my blog has moved to - a new address

http://atstod.blogspot.com

You can also follow me on twitter - www.twitter.com/atstod

New Blog Address

After almost five years of blogging, I'm moving. Not churches, not really changing the focus and scope of my blog.

Just the name. And address.

I'm one of those twitter addicts. On my twitter profile is www.twitter/atstod

I thought, wouldn't it be cool if that was my blog address as well. So, it is.

My new blog is http://atstod.blogspot.com. I'll continue the same devotional thoughts, and I hope to do more personal and church reflection there.

So, come join me! - http://atstod.blogspot.com

Lent: Monday, March 23, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Jeremiah 16:10-21

The problems that Israel faces goes back to the fact the main thing God told them to do was worship Him. Place Him first. Have no other idols. But, they worshiped idols, they turned away. It all started with that.

When God is not first, our entire being is thrown off. We were created to have God first in our lives and when He is not, we are living at our fullest, we will not experience the peace, joy, and love we were created to know. When He is first, we know the fullness of life. When He is not, we are not fully alive.

New Testament Lesson

Romans 7:1-12

We are not saved by keeping the Law or the Commandments. We are saved by faith in Christ. Faith is the key to that life. But, that doesn't mean we should disregard the Law either. We are not saved by it, but we need to live moral and good lives. The law shows us how. The commandments show us how. Life comes through Christ. May we remember that He is our life.

Gospel Lesson

John 6:1-15

Jesus fed the people. He met their needs. He gave them what they needed for life; they found it in Him.

Let Him feed you today. Let Him feed your souls and meet your needs. He will fill your soul and give you life!

Lent: Thursday, March 19, 2009

Today, just a quick thought and say a prayer for Bill Kuykendall this morning as he recovers from a heart attack and faces a heart cath today.

I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him.

CS Lewis

Lent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Today, just a quick thought

Attitude is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. The remarkable thing is, we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We can not change the fact that people act in a certain way. We can not change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.

Charles Swindoll

Lent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Jeremiah 7:21-34

A powerful verse today. God told the people to look forward, not backwards. Look at what He has called you to be, not who you used to be. Look at the new life ahead, not the old life behind. Look at the grace in new day, not the sin was behind. Look forward to what is to come, not what lay behind.

For God is ahead. New life is ahead. Forgiveness is ahead. Don't focus on what you used to be. Focus on who God is calling you to be. Look forward, not backwards.

New Testament Lesson

Romans 4:13-25

One of the reasons reasons why Abraham is our great example of faith was that he kept hoping and having faith, even when things didn't look good. He left behind what was known, to go to what was unknown. Because God had called him. And he had faith in God. He had faith, even when his eyes could not see. For, above all, he trusted God. May we have the same type of faith.

Gospel Lesson

John 7:37-52

Jesus tells everyone that is thirsty, come and drink. If you are thirsty today, if you are lacking today, if you are needful today, if you have that whole in your heart day; come drink. Come drink the life-giving water of Jesus. Drink in life. Drink in rest. Drink in new life.

May all who are needful find what they need in Jesus.

Lent: Monday, March 16, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Jeremiah 7:1-15

We see the Lord tell the people, if you will return to me, I will be there. If you return to me, you will find mercy and grace. You will find life. What does it look like to return? Returning to God involves how we treat those in need. How we care for those in our midst that need our help and God's help. The prophet says :

For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly act justly one with another, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own hurt, then I will dwell with you in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your ancestors forever and ever.

If we love God, we love neighbor. That's how God wants it to go. Our love for Him is seen in how we treat one another. Today, may we love Him by loving each other.

New Testament Lesson

Romans 4:1-12

We see that Abraham's faith was reckoned to him as righteousness. It wasn't his actions, it was his faith. His faith produced action. But, the faith was the start. The faith was the heart. The faith was where it all starts. Today, and each day, may the faith we have change all our lives.

Gospel Lesson

John 7:14-36

Jesus reminds us that He received His teaching from God. So, when we see Jesus, we see God. When we see the teaching and love of Jesus, we see the heart and compassion of God. When we see the mercy of Jesus, we see the mercy of God. When we see who Jesus is, we see who God is.

Lent: Thursday, March 12, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Jeremiah 4:9-10, 19-28

We see the Lord say, my people, even though they have done wrong, even though they have turn away, God still weeps over the hurt that is happening to His people. Because He is a God that loves. And when our hearts are broken, His heart is broken.

New Testament Lesson

Romans 2:12-24

We see Paul tell us that no one can stand in judgement, because all have sinned. We are all equal in need for God. No one is perfect. All need grace and forgiveness. All need to be restored. We are all in need. And God loves each of us and wants us all to know His grace and mercy.

Gospel Lesson

John 5:19-29

Jesus tells us that believe comes and takes away judgment. We are not saved by our actions but by the faith that we have. We can't earn God's love. It's freely given today to all that believe.