Hello All. I am a bit sad today and I am not sure why... everything looks good, but I just seem a little down. I guess it's something we all have to go through every now and again. Maybe it's because I am bipolar. Maybe it is because it is Tuesday. I don't know. What I do know is that God loves me in spite of myself and that is a good thing. Very well. My quiet time is fitting for a day such as this...
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I don't feel very strong right now... but then I also consider Gideon.
Judges 6:11-15
11 The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
13 "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."
14 The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"
15 "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
When I read this, I think... "Lord, how can I (insert something in here)? I am the weakest person I know? (Now, insert whatever excuse here)." In Judges, God shows us that weakness is not a problem, and then God re-inforces that thought with Paul in 2nd Corinthians. Sometimes that seems so big that I cannot wrap my mind around it... but it is not for me to understand. My job is to just accept that and know that God loves me in spite of myself. With a QT such as this, I am a little more encouraged... I know these feelings will pass, this is not the first time I have felt this way for no reason, and it won't be the last, I am sure. God does take care of me. Johnny Out.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Tuesday, August 23rd
Posted by Weather Man at 9:38 AM
Labels: Johnny Ray's Quiet Time
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8 comments:
Good morning brothers, how is everyone this morning? I am fired up and thank you so much Ray for the inspiring email this morning that is so true man about God and his love. This morning I was reading about Solomon and his dedication of the temple and how thankful and worshipful he was to God for all that he had blessed Solomon with. Solomon is such an inspiration to me in may ways and I want to strive for wisdom and to give all the glory to God for everything small or large that God blesses me with. I love all of you and I pray that all of you has a great day today. God bless!!! Reminder 7:30 my house bible study.
Joseph
Dear Warriors and Band of Brothers,
I am so fired up for this day, the sun is shinning through my door right now and I pray that "The Son" shines through my life today!!! Last night was so awesome, Jimmy really brought it "old school" last night, really helped me to get to know more about him and the mircale that God has made in him. I have been reading in I John 4: 7-21, he is talking about love, I really love vs 18: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, becasue fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. I am so fearful at times, I know that comes from a lack of trust in God, I love how God puts my mind at ease. 1 John 5:4-5 - for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Thank you all for praying for my mom and for being in my life and for calling me to a higher level. I am grateful for this new day...I pray that you all are safe and in the fight.
I love you all,
Ray
Ray,
Thank you for the encouragement in sharing your time with God this morning it is awesome that you are learning and growing so much. I feel blessed to have you in my life.
I was reading with Cody and Max, Josephs little brother, this morning in 1 Peter and it is just so comforting:
1 Peter 1
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
I pray that you all Have a blessed day.
Love Your Brother in Christ
Jeff
Good morning
I'm sorry you are feeling sad (blue) I know I have those days too even though everything is okay, I get blue for many reasons mostly stuff that goes in my head...
I pray that joy will be with you and that God puts his arms around you to take the blues away or make it clear why you are feeling that way, may God comfort you, and fill your heart with joy, God love you John 3:16 & John 3:34
have a blessed day
y.s.i.c
Mary
Thank you Ray and Jeff, both of these scriptures are downright amazing. The need for salvation is so great, and it reminded me how I was once very very lost, but now redeemed through the blood of Jesus. I do not ever want to be eternally separated from my Lord and the Father. It is sometimes this deep fear of that separation that keeps me sober and pure. I am so blessed that people like you guys seek to know and share these mysteries with others. It is so wonderful to see my friends in Christ focusing on Heavenly things and Salvation, and all things that are noble and pure. I love you guys and pray that all of us continue to share in the Spirit all the wonderful thing in Christ that we have found, with other disciples and the lost. Even despite all the uncertainty and change that this world presents us, I feel very positive about our future, where ever God may take us. I am deeply humbled that works alone, nor faith alone gains us access to the Father, but it is by the grace of God alone, that we find Him and he redeems us. I feel like such a child when it comes to actually understanding these things.
I love you guys.
Marc
PS Jimmy's class last night was refreshing, convicting, and very well thought out and prepared. I am inspired to share CR and what CR is all about, and feel like I was given some great insights last night. I can't wait to see what God has in store for those that are willing and ready to do His work.
Johnny, this really encouraged me greatly. I think we all have a "messenger of Satan" that torments us from time to time. It is somewhat alarming that Jesus allows us to go through this torment, but then he said "my grace is sufficient". To rely on the Grace of Christ. This is our goal. Much easier said than done, but Christ also said his power is made perfect in our weakness. If that is how it is to be, I too am with you. I will simply need to accept this and trust Jesus. Thank you for sharing your quiet time. It is very inspiring and comforting to have fellow warriors putting on the armor and marching out into the unknown to fight the fight, and also helping others put on the armor as well. May Jesus send you extra grace for your "thorn" today.
Marc
Dear Johnny,
Brother, I can definately relate with being sad sometimes and not knowing why and how to feel about being sad. I am encouraged to see that you are in step with it and sharing it, I know when I share about being sad God definately blesses me in a great way. I am sorry that I haven't called more or emailed more, it's been on my mind but honestly my heart is there I just don't make the time. I do love you bro and am praying for you and Jenny everyday.
http://www.x3watch.com
This is a free internet accountability program that has really helped me stay pure while on the interet at home. What it basically does is provide accountability by sending an email of any questionable sites or content that you browse, to an accountability partner of your choice. Feel free to use me as you accountability partner if you want to, or contact your best friend, and I am sure they will help you out. It is not a filter, and does not block access to any site, just monitors sites visited for questionable content. It only sends an email once every 2 weeks, so it's not a nuissance or daily email clog issue.
Just a tool. Not a crutch. Nothing compares to God's word, the Body, and our hearts for purity and willingness to die to our sinful nature, but this site has helped me, and many others with this particular temptation. My feeling is that Satan uses many tools against us, why not use a few of our own and fight back for God?
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