Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts

December 15, 2011

holy hands

two weeks ago, my pastor was teaching from 1 Timothy 2:8...

"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer,
without anger or disputing."

 my pastor's point was that men, in general, tend to have more issues with anger. i won't argue that. but it's interesting that Paul links these two ideas together. worship and anger management. but i guess he's on to something. ya can't really worship when you're bitter and ticked off at someone. i mean, you can, but it's not authentic and God is real clear about how we are to worship. and it ain't that fake, forced business.

as i reflected, i couldn't help but think of one man that is an "as close to perfect as a fallen man can be" example. my pops.

my pops is that kind of man. the one that worships in Spirit and Truth. and not just on a Sunday morning. on every morning of every day. in all that he does. he is a man that worships with all of his life. all that he does. all that he says. all that he plans. he walks in the Spirit. he leads in the Spirit. he loves in the Spirit. he lifts up holy hands without anger or disputing. thanks for setting the bar high and leading our family so well, dad. love you!



live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

December 3, 2011

wrestling with expectations

credit: pinterest

this seems to be a theme in my life right now. i've said something to this effect both to myself and others numerous times lately. so as nice as it would be, i can't expect the people around me to have a heart to serve just because i do. i want them to have that desire for their own sake and for the sake of making much of Christ by being servants in a self-consumed society. but i can't expect that from them. it's their choice. God has to work in their heart the same way he worked in mine.

i also can't hold other people to my personal standards. if they don't know the Lord, they don't operate under the same set of moral principles as i do. and as much as i want them to, that's the Holy Spirit's job, not mine. i get to serve them through a gospel-minded lifestyle and love them well. and if they do know the Lord and are choosing to set their gaze on temporal things, then i get to show them what it looks like to live a life focused on the eternal instead.

i have a tremendous opportunity to live the gospel every single day. and so do you. live it well.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.