It's that time, y'all!!! The parades, the balls, the parties, the beads!!!! Throw me something, mister!!! The music--a genre of its own. It's Mardi Gras, folks. So let the good times roll...
I didn't know a thing about Mardi Gras until I attended the University of Southern Mississippi. All I knew was I was getting two days off. So yeah, roll on good times!!!!
So, friends, enjoy your Mardi Gras. Just remember why you get a Mardi Gras and what it means to you as Christian. What are you giving up since you are "doing what you wanna" today?
Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ--His suffering and sacrifice, his life, death, burial, and resurrection.
Showing posts with label life lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life lessons. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Study for yourself.
The weekly alphabet bible study moves on. This week's letter is S. I would like to encourage everyone to Study this week. Even God asks you to study.
II Timothy 2:15 reads: Study to show yourself approved unto God; a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of God.
Now that seems pretty straight-forward. Study to show yourself approved. I know many people go to church every week to listen to someone else tell them what God says. Yet, they never know the word for themselves. I believe God wants a personal relationship with each one of us and that does not involve your pastor. Three really can be a crowd.
You must give God's Word a place of priority in your everyday life. Practically speaking, this could mean that you confess the Word while getting ready in the mornings. Maybe you could listen to teaching or worship music on the way to work. You may want to use your lunch hour to read the Word or walk outside and pray. Just make sure you pursue His truth on a regular, ongoing basis. Giving His Word a place of top priority will change your life.
I am not trying to discourage anyone from attending church. What I am encouraging is for you to study His Word for yourself. How will you know if your preacher is getting it right if you don't know what is right in the first place? Besides, it says to study to show yourself approved. Not your pastor or minister or preacher or teacher. But YOU and you alone. When the time comes, it will be you standing in judgement. Will you have studied? Will you be approved?
Soli Deo Gloria,
SA Brown
II Timothy 2:15 reads: Study to show yourself approved unto God; a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of God.
Now that seems pretty straight-forward. Study to show yourself approved. I know many people go to church every week to listen to someone else tell them what God says. Yet, they never know the word for themselves. I believe God wants a personal relationship with each one of us and that does not involve your pastor. Three really can be a crowd.
You must give God's Word a place of priority in your everyday life. Practically speaking, this could mean that you confess the Word while getting ready in the mornings. Maybe you could listen to teaching or worship music on the way to work. You may want to use your lunch hour to read the Word or walk outside and pray. Just make sure you pursue His truth on a regular, ongoing basis. Giving His Word a place of top priority will change your life.
I am not trying to discourage anyone from attending church. What I am encouraging is for you to study His Word for yourself. How will you know if your preacher is getting it right if you don't know what is right in the first place? Besides, it says to study to show yourself approved. Not your pastor or minister or preacher or teacher. But YOU and you alone. When the time comes, it will be you standing in judgement. Will you have studied? Will you be approved?
Soli Deo Gloria,
SA Brown
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Waiting Game
I had an interesting dream last night. I don't want to bore anyone with the details. Yet, I often wonder if my dreams are stories I should tell. That is for another post...
I woke this morning thinking about Psalm 84:11. That thought reminded me of the story of Hannah. Hannah's story is the classic waiting game story. In addition to that, there's the need vs. want subtext. Let me explain...
Psalm 84:11 reads For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right.
Did you get what you wanted for Christmas or did you get what you needed? What we want and what we need don’t often go hand in hand. There are things that I have wanted for a long time now that apparently the Lord has not seen to be necessities in my life just yet. I know He knows what is best for me, but it is still hard to wait. And it is difficult not to look longingly at what others have received and wonder why I cannot be the recipient of such things as well. This kind of struggle is not new to any of us. And Hannah, who we read about in 1 Samuel, is a great example of how to live when what you want is not yet something God says you need.
For years Hannah had wanted to become a mother. To bear a child. To give her husband, Elkanah, a son—just like his other wife, Peninnah. Being barren was considered a disgrace for a woman in those times, so Hannah most likely felt ashamed and alone and perhaps like a societal outcast. Instead of turning away, though, Hannah took her sorrow and her request for what she wanted to the Lord. We don’t know for sure how long she waited (perhaps years)—and we don’t know the exact purposes of God’s timing in her life—but we can still learn a great deal from Hannah’s example:
1. She was persistent and continually sought the Lord.She did not give up and stop asking the Lord for what she wanted. Like clockwork, Hannah kept bringing her request to God, year after year (v. 7). No doubt her want continued to drive her to the Father and most likely deepened her relationship with Him.
2. She did not give in to ridicule or naysayers. Even when Peninnah, who was fruitful and had children, taunted her because she was barren, Hannah did not add insult to injury (v. 7). She did not retaliate when ridiculed for her condition or her faith.
3. She shared her “want” and was encouraged by others.When the high priest Eli observed Hannah praying in the temple and inquired as to her condition, she shared with him what she was asking of the Lord. Eli encouraged her and asked God to answer her request (vv. 12-17).
4. She gave back to God what he had given to her.When God blessed Hannah with a child, she did not cling tightly to him. She kept her promise, let her son go and dedicated him to the Lord (v. 11, vv.21-28). That is model faith!
Like Hannah, are you waiting on the Lord to give you something you want in your life today? A new job? Reconciliation in your marriage? Blessing in your finances? A cure from illness? To find your soul mate? Victory over an addiction? A baby? Each of us has something we want in our lives. But is up to God to decide if this is something we really need. May we continue to come to Him with joy and thankfulness as we acknowledge that He knows what is best for our lives.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Step Brown
I woke this morning thinking about Psalm 84:11. That thought reminded me of the story of Hannah. Hannah's story is the classic waiting game story. In addition to that, there's the need vs. want subtext. Let me explain...
Psalm 84:11 reads For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right.
Did you get what you wanted for Christmas or did you get what you needed? What we want and what we need don’t often go hand in hand. There are things that I have wanted for a long time now that apparently the Lord has not seen to be necessities in my life just yet. I know He knows what is best for me, but it is still hard to wait. And it is difficult not to look longingly at what others have received and wonder why I cannot be the recipient of such things as well. This kind of struggle is not new to any of us. And Hannah, who we read about in 1 Samuel, is a great example of how to live when what you want is not yet something God says you need.
For years Hannah had wanted to become a mother. To bear a child. To give her husband, Elkanah, a son—just like his other wife, Peninnah. Being barren was considered a disgrace for a woman in those times, so Hannah most likely felt ashamed and alone and perhaps like a societal outcast. Instead of turning away, though, Hannah took her sorrow and her request for what she wanted to the Lord. We don’t know for sure how long she waited (perhaps years)—and we don’t know the exact purposes of God’s timing in her life—but we can still learn a great deal from Hannah’s example:
1. She was persistent and continually sought the Lord.She did not give up and stop asking the Lord for what she wanted. Like clockwork, Hannah kept bringing her request to God, year after year (v. 7). No doubt her want continued to drive her to the Father and most likely deepened her relationship with Him.
2. She did not give in to ridicule or naysayers. Even when Peninnah, who was fruitful and had children, taunted her because she was barren, Hannah did not add insult to injury (v. 7). She did not retaliate when ridiculed for her condition or her faith.
3. She shared her “want” and was encouraged by others.When the high priest Eli observed Hannah praying in the temple and inquired as to her condition, she shared with him what she was asking of the Lord. Eli encouraged her and asked God to answer her request (vv. 12-17).
4. She gave back to God what he had given to her.When God blessed Hannah with a child, she did not cling tightly to him. She kept her promise, let her son go and dedicated him to the Lord (v. 11, vv.21-28). That is model faith!
Like Hannah, are you waiting on the Lord to give you something you want in your life today? A new job? Reconciliation in your marriage? Blessing in your finances? A cure from illness? To find your soul mate? Victory over an addiction? A baby? Each of us has something we want in our lives. But is up to God to decide if this is something we really need. May we continue to come to Him with joy and thankfulness as we acknowledge that He knows what is best for our lives.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Step Brown
Friday, November 4, 2011
Seasons Change...
Ecclesiastes 3:1--There is a season for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.
Just as there are seasons in nature, there are seasons in life. As you progress in your spiritual life, you will go through seasons of change and growth as well as dormancy and doubt.
Spring is a season of joy when new growth occurs. God seems very close in both big and small stuff during this season.
Summer is made for relaxing, vacationing, and renewing. This is when your life seems like it is on cruise control with little to no concerns.
Fall can lull you into complacency. You may even take God for granted. Fall is the season of disappointments and unfulfilled expectations.
Winter is the time when you need God more than ever, even though He seems far away. Call out to God and He will answer---not by removing your winter but by giving you the strength to get through it.
Take some time to ask yourself which season are you in. Ask God for the discernment of the seasons and once you get your Word, pray accordingly.
Until next time...
Soli Deo Gloria,
Step Brown
Just as there are seasons in nature, there are seasons in life. As you progress in your spiritual life, you will go through seasons of change and growth as well as dormancy and doubt.
Spring is a season of joy when new growth occurs. God seems very close in both big and small stuff during this season.
Summer is made for relaxing, vacationing, and renewing. This is when your life seems like it is on cruise control with little to no concerns.
Fall can lull you into complacency. You may even take God for granted. Fall is the season of disappointments and unfulfilled expectations.
Winter is the time when you need God more than ever, even though He seems far away. Call out to God and He will answer---not by removing your winter but by giving you the strength to get through it.
Take some time to ask yourself which season are you in. Ask God for the discernment of the seasons and once you get your Word, pray accordingly.
Until next time...
Soli Deo Gloria,
Step Brown
Sunday, January 2, 2011
When you should believe…
A farmer was cutting grass when he ran over a snake. Half-dead, the snake begged the farmer to nurse him back to health. Filled with compassion, the farmer takes the snake in. For months, the farmer feeds and cares for the snake. One day, the farmer handles the snake and it bites him. Dying, the farmer asks why would you bite me? The snake replies you knew what I was when you picked me up.
When they show you who they are, believe them…
Soli Deo Gloria,
Step Brown
When they show you who they are, believe them…
Soli Deo Gloria,
Step Brown
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