Reflections from the QTs in Jamaica (Monday)

Reflections from Monday's QT:

Monday: Topic: Gossip
Scriptures:
Proverbs 18:8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.
Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

How easy is it to gossip? Consider this scripture with the others.

Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

I can sometimes find it difficult to ramble on and on and on about things, instead of listening. Normally, I have a tendency to just sit back and take in what is being said, but there are instances where I just CANNOT shut up. Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. SIN IS NOT ABSENT. Wow. I have heard it said that we have two ears and one mouth. Use them proportionately.

1 Thessalonians 5:11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

If we talk a lot, there is more of a possiblity that we end up saying something we don't want to say. And if I do that, then how can I encourage one another? I think that is how Prov. 10:19 comes into play. Sin is not absent. President Taft was considered a good president, I think mainly because he spoke very little. A very "to the point" kind of guy. I think I can learn something from that. Johnny Out.

Jamaica Week! - 8/8/12 to 8/12/05

I was at Jamaica all week this week (Monday thru Friday) and so many things happened there. Tempted by alcohol every step of the way, people tried to hand me all sorts of drinks with rum in it, and God gave me the strength. It was truly a victory unlike any other I have had in my life. I did have QTs all during the week, something I couldn't say about my trip to Colorado Springs last year. I get in the mindset of vacation from life including God. When a vacation from life should be life with God. But alas, I stood strong. I may have lost my job in the process, and if that is the case, it would have to be God's will. What other will could it be? Very well. A brief review of my QTs:

Monday: Topic: Gossip

Scriptures:
Proverbs 18:8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.

Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

Tuesday: Topic: Contempt in Boasting & Blameshifting

Scripture: (for blameshifting)
Genesis 3:12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

Wednesday: Topic: Mocking

Scripture:
Psalm 2:4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

Psalm 37:12-13
12 The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.

Thursday: Topic: Ridicule

Scripture:
Jeremiah 48:25-26
25 Moab's horn is cut off; her arm is broken," declares the LORD.
26 "Make her drunk, for she has defied the LORD. Let Moab wallow in her vomit; let her be an object of ridicule.

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Numbers 14:23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.

Topic: Humiliation

Scripture:
Nahum 3:5-7
5 "I am against you," declares the LORD Almighty. "I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show the nations your nakedness and the kingdoms your shame.
6 I will pelt you with filth, I will treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle.
7 All who see you will flee from you and say, 'Nineveh is in ruins—who will mourn for her?' Where can I find anyone to comfort you?"

Friday: Topic: Mockery of Jesus

Scripture:
Psalm 22:7-8
7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:
8 "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."

Matthew 27:27-31 & 39-44
27Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

39Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
41In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 44In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

1 Peter 2:23
23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Galatians 3:13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

Deuteronomy 21:23 you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Note: I will add another post of my reflections on the versus above. These were great QTs overall, but being away from home, I struggled with getting things out of them. I enjoyed them, but feel with my reflections, I will get more out of them.

Sunday, August 7th

Alright, today I went to church. Mr Good christian for today. Punched the clock, so God is happy. Well, honestly, that's not how I feel. I am just glad to be back with the body again. I met up with a brother yesterday and we watched the Rangers game and it was just great to be hanging out with him and my wife. The weather was way too hot, but that didn't take too much away from just being with those you love. I came home to my parents watching my son and it was just as good. Seeing my family used to be real tough, banging heads due to disagreement, seeing things differently, I just didn't want to be around them. I sucked up my pride and moved a little closer to them. And things couldn't be better. I don't know if it was moving closer, me trying to befriend them, or simply just a heart change, but something happened and it was for the better.

Message from Todd Asaad 8/7/05

"Troubles in My Way"

Matthew 14:1-12

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, 4for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.

6On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." 9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10and had John beheaded in the prison. 11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Note: we all have opposition.

Point #1: You Gotta Serve Sometime

Matthew 14:13-21

13When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."

16Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

17"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.

18"Bring them here to me," he said. 19And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Note: Jesus wanted time alone to pray and mourn for John, but the people needed Jesus. They ran around the lake to catch up with him. he had compassion on them. Serve first, then Jesus will fix it.

Point #2: You Gotta Pray Sometimes

Matthew 14:22-26

22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

Psalm 18:1-6

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.

Note: Bear your heart & soul to God, instead of dealing with it in a worldly way, pray first. Jesus' faith was renewed so much, he was able to walk on water.

Point #3: You Gotta be Faithful All the Time

Matthew 14:25-33

25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

29"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Note: Why did he doubt? Why do I doubt sometimes? I do wonder sometimes why I think the way that I do and make the decisions that I make. God only knows, I guess.

Numbers 11:4-6

4 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"

Note: THEY WERE IN SLAVERY!! Will a slave owner CHARGE his own slaves for food when they are essentially working for free? OF COURSE IT WAS AT NO CHARGE... just a thought I had...

Micah 6:1-8

1 Listen to what the LORD says: "Stand up, plead your case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say.
2 Hear, O mountains, the LORD's accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.
3 "My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4 I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.
5 My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD."
6 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

versus 1-5 (God); versus 6-7 (The people); verse 8 (Micah)

Matthew 14:34-36

34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

Back to serving. A great message, really a good time for me to hear it. Thanks so much, Todd.

Saturday, August 6th

I thought I would ad a picture of my little Texas Junior Ranger (I just figured it out). I think it is great to be a Dad. My son is now 3 months old (this pic is of him when he was just a day or two old). He has changed so much. Which brings me to my quiet time. In just 3 months, my son has made so many changes, in appearance and personality. As adults, they say that we change but very slowly. I wonder if this is true. I know in the last 3 months, I have changed a tremendous amount. I have a new job, a son, two cars instead of one, and gone from financial security to financial disarray. Our character goes through constant change. Am I changing it for the good? bad?

char·ac·ter (noun)
1. The combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person, group, or thing from another.
2. A distinguishing feature or attribute, as of an individual, group, or category.

3. Moral or ethical strength.
4. A description of a person's attributes, traits, or abilities.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

Romans 5:1-5
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Also, some other scriptures that I found on this...
Proverbs 4:4 A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

Also see Proverbs 31 which talks of a wife of noble character. My thought is this (refering to the wife of noble character): if my wife is required by the bible to be of noble character, then what about me, the dude? Am I supposed to be sitting around and just be a jerk? By no means! I am supposed to be setting an example for her. And if I don't? Then Whoah is me. I would be in the land of whotus for sure.

So how do I become a man of noble character? Romans 5 pretty well spells it out for me. Suffering > perseverance > character > hope

This QT helps me. Off I go - Johnny Out!

Friday, August 5th

Hello, Hello... at a place called home. Rangers drop one tonight. I think "dropped" would be a generous term. More like, gave away. Pitching and Rangers are not two words used in the same sentence, unless there is a "no" in front of the pitching, then it might make sense. I am working on homework, have been since I was 5, and something hit me last night, and I have been thinking about it for a while. Onto the definition of the day... (I think I may becoming a little predictable)

crit·i·cal (adj.)
1. Inclined to judge severely and find fault.
2. Characterized by careful, exact evaluation and judgment.

think·ing (noun)
1. A way of reasoning; judgment.

I have an assignment that is dealing with critical thinking, and the words just stuck with me. I was wondering how these two words fit in with my walk with God. I tend to make light of a lot of things in life, for the simple fact that no matter what I do, earn, and collect, in the end - it stays here and I move on to the "next stage." (That's not the former Nokia Theatre, btw) Do I have critical thinking with God, family, friends, work, or school? I think so. I think this even goes back to contempt. Would critical thinking maybe include contempt? If I were to find fault and pass judgment on someone, wouldn't that be contempt? And finding fault wouldn't be too hard to do. We all fall short of the glory; we all are not deserving of what God has done for us. Who besides Jesus deserved anything? And then to top it off, Jesus had such a humble attitude that he felt he didn't deserve a thing. By looking things up in the dictionary, judgment isn't so much a bad thing, though...

judgment (noun)
1. The capacity to form an opinion by distinguishing and evaluating
2. The capacity to assess situations or circumstances and draw sound conclusions; good sense

When I becameChristianian, I had to make a judgment on the situation. As we all do, assess the situation and form a conclusion. The question: "do I want to do this?" is asked in my mind, I make the decision and move on. So obviously judgment isn't a bad thing. Used on people is something else entirely.

Galatians 2:11-13
11When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

Peter does what I have done. I seperate myself from those who either intimidate me or I feel I am better than. If someone has a nice car, nice cloths, a lot of "bling," I develop an attitude that will either go like: You have so much money, I am not worthy to be your friend - you are too good for my tastes. OR: I am better than you because I don't need those expensive things to prove I am a good person.

Guess what? Both are wrong. Either way I go, I am in sin on this. I draw back and seperate myself both ways and that leads me to hypocrisy. Jesus talked to everyone, relatable to everyone and I need to strive toward that kind of character. I see this in my character and repent. Please hold me accountable. Thanks so much for reading the blog. Johnny Out.