I used to watch the news all the time. I think it's something I learned growing up. My dad loved to know what was going on in the world. I don't watch the news much anymore because it is depressing and I have a toddler who doesn't need to see these things yet. I was working around the house after I put her to bed and I heard this on the TV in the background. It stood out to me and I watched the rest of the broadcast. It was about controlling the thoughts we have.
They might have the latest news, but they're not going to share the greatest news!www.changinglives.org/ Gregory Dickow Ministries
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Laminin
This is from a sermon by Louie Giglio (please clickthe name to check out the video!)! I want to share what I learned.
Louie was talking about how inconceivably BIG our God is...how He spoke the universe into being...how He breathes stars out of His mouth that are huge raging balls of fire...etc. etc. Then He went on to speak of how this star-breathing, universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) .....and I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork.
I remember so many times thinking: "How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this?" Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart...how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.
And then I lost my breath. It was because he started talking about laminin. I knew about laminin. Here is how Wikipedia describes them: "Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue." You see....laminins are what hold us together....LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already.
But what I didn't know is what laminin LOOKED LIKE. But now I do. And I have thought about it a thousand times since....Here is what the structure of laminin looks like...AND THIS IS NOT a "Christian portrayal"' of it. If you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see:
Louie was talking about how inconceivably BIG our God is...how He spoke the universe into being...how He breathes stars out of His mouth that are huge raging balls of fire...etc. etc. Then He went on to speak of how this star-breathing, universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) .....and I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork.
I remember so many times thinking: "How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this?" Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart...how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.
And then I lost my breath. It was because he started talking about laminin. I knew about laminin. Here is how Wikipedia describes them: "Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue." You see....laminins are what hold us together....LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already.
But what I didn't know is what laminin LOOKED LIKE. But now I do. And I have thought about it a thousand times since....Here is what the structure of laminin looks like...AND THIS IS NOT a "Christian portrayal"' of it. If you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see:
Amazing!
The glue that holds us together....ALL of us....is in the shape of the cross!!
Immediately Colossians 1:15-17 comes to mind: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, And in him all things HOLD TOGETHER."
Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words. The Creator knew EXACTLY what laminin "glue" would look like long before Adam even breathed his first breath!!
And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together one cell to another....BY THE CROSS!!
Our God is SO AMAZING!!!
The Trip Home
A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on:*Fasten Your Seat Belts.*
Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened."
As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive.
Later, the voice on the intercom said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."
And then the storm broke . . .
The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.
The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.
"Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was reading a book and every- thing within her small world was calm and orderly.
"Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world.
When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid." The minister could hardly believe his eyes.
It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time.
Having commented about the storm and the behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid.
The child replied, "Cause my Daddy's the pilot, and he's taking me home."
Physical, mental, financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and quickly darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and confess, it is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the ground than when we are being tossed about a darkened sky.
Let us remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and taking us home. Don't worry!
- Gerald M. Costello, Interim Director, The Christophers
Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened."
As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive.
Later, the voice on the intercom said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."
And then the storm broke . . .
The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.
The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.
"Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was reading a book and every- thing within her small world was calm and orderly.
"Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world.
When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid." The minister could hardly believe his eyes.
It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time.
Having commented about the storm and the behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid.
The child replied, "Cause my Daddy's the pilot, and he's taking me home."
Physical, mental, financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and quickly darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and confess, it is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the ground than when we are being tossed about a darkened sky.
Let us remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and taking us home. Don't worry!
- Gerald M. Costello, Interim Director, The Christophers
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
where to start?
4-13-08
Passions
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
People:
Children (abused and neglected)
Parents
teen parents
teens
women
families of prisoners
health-lifestyles
elderly
Ways:
encourage
teach
give
education
physical needs (health care)
missions
technology
Experiences:
marriage
pregnancy
death
Ministries:
New Heart Fellowship
John 3:16
OBHC
Margaret Hudson
Tulakogee
Samaritan's purse
Focus on the Family
Free in Christ
Joyce Meyer Ministries
Life Outreach
Compassion International
Fun:
Read
make things
technology
websites/podcasts/etc
run
Lord, How do these things work together? Have you created me to be interested and involved in so many things? I know that you are a big God-your ways and your thoughts are higher than mine and I can't comprehend how all this foes together or how you could use my past for your glory. Lord, I know I have to trust you. I know you have called me to your service, for your glory. Teach me to trust you because I can't do anything without you.
John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Passions
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
People:
Children (abused and neglected)
Parents
teen parents
teens
women
families of prisoners
health-lifestyles
elderly
Ways:
encourage
teach
give
education
physical needs (health care)
missions
technology
Experiences:
marriage
pregnancy
death
Ministries:
New Heart Fellowship
John 3:16
OBHC
Margaret Hudson
Tulakogee
Samaritan's purse
Focus on the Family
Free in Christ
Joyce Meyer Ministries
Life Outreach
Compassion International
Fun:
Read
make things
technology
websites/podcasts/etc
run
Lord, How do these things work together? Have you created me to be interested and involved in so many things? I know that you are a big God-your ways and your thoughts are higher than mine and I can't comprehend how all this foes together or how you could use my past for your glory. Lord, I know I have to trust you. I know you have called me to your service, for your glory. Teach me to trust you because I can't do anything without you.
John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
take it
As I poured the last of the milk for Zaleigh this morning, I relaized how much God gave for me. Like Zaleigh, who didn't drink the milk (when I would have) How often do we not take and use what the Father has given to us? He has gifted me, but I leave it in a sippy cup.
completely white
God sees me as completely white-spot free-no stains...all because of Jesus! I can't even imagine!
As the mother of a toddler, I am constantly trying to remove stains, food, grass, marker...you name it! I can wash and scrub, and wash, and wash, and it may still be there. Thank God, through Jesus my stains are gone!
A few weeks ago, I went though some of Zaleigh's clothes from when she was an infant. I couldn't believe that some of them were yellowed and stained! I just put them away a little over a year ago....and I made sure that they were clean when I put them in storage!
How often do we, even though we have been washed white as snow, allow ourselves to become yellowed and stained? Do we walk around contaminated by this world and forget that Jesus paid the price to make us completely white?
As much as I love Zaleigh, even at her precious young age, I know that she is not perfect. It will be impossible for me to see her that way, I will always know the wrong she has done even when I forgive her and want to forget. But the Father looks at us and sees no wrong, because of Jesus. I have been forgiven completely!
Lord help me to forgive others the way you do! Help me to see them the way you do because of Jesus. Let me not see and judge your people the way the world does. Father, I thank you that because of Jesus you see me as completely white. Let me receive your cleansing and forgiveness. In Jesus Name-Amen.
As the mother of a toddler, I am constantly trying to remove stains, food, grass, marker...you name it! I can wash and scrub, and wash, and wash, and it may still be there. Thank God, through Jesus my stains are gone!
A few weeks ago, I went though some of Zaleigh's clothes from when she was an infant. I couldn't believe that some of them were yellowed and stained! I just put them away a little over a year ago....and I made sure that they were clean when I put them in storage!
How often do we, even though we have been washed white as snow, allow ourselves to become yellowed and stained? Do we walk around contaminated by this world and forget that Jesus paid the price to make us completely white?
As much as I love Zaleigh, even at her precious young age, I know that she is not perfect. It will be impossible for me to see her that way, I will always know the wrong she has done even when I forgive her and want to forget. But the Father looks at us and sees no wrong, because of Jesus. I have been forgiven completely!
Lord help me to forgive others the way you do! Help me to see them the way you do because of Jesus. Let me not see and judge your people the way the world does. Father, I thank you that because of Jesus you see me as completely white. Let me receive your cleansing and forgiveness. In Jesus Name-Amen.
Doubting
It used to be that when I would think deeply about salvation that I would question mine. I asked the Lord to show me if I needed to deal with something or if it was the enemy trying to stop me from moving forward. Hebrews 11:6 came to my mind 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. I asked God to increase my faith and help me to earnestly seek him. I rejoiced greatly when God's truth revealed to me that it was the enemy trying to keep me from joy...if I doubt my salvation I can't live in in the chara (joy) that comes from the fruit of the Spirit. I will have joy in the salvation Christ bought for me!
Thank you Father for revealing to me that you have chosen me to be redeemed by the King. Thank you for giving me the faith to believe and accept your gift and promise. I am so thankful that you have revealed your Truth to me and reminded me that I am your daughter, that you have adopted me. Lord, I pray that you would clarify and remove doubt from any of your children in this area. Let the redeemed of the Lord rejoice in their salvation!!! Amen
Thank you Father for revealing to me that you have chosen me to be redeemed by the King. Thank you for giving me the faith to believe and accept your gift and promise. I am so thankful that you have revealed your Truth to me and reminded me that I am your daughter, that you have adopted me. Lord, I pray that you would clarify and remove doubt from any of your children in this area. Let the redeemed of the Lord rejoice in their salvation!!! Amen
Engraved
Here is something from my journal on 3-11-08. I had been studying joy and the kindness and goodness of God. Isaiah 49:16 tells me that He has engraved me on the palm of his hand.
The Hebrew word for engraved is CHAQAQ and it means "to hack". The Hebrew word was used for the act of cutting or chiseling laws into tablets of stone, yet I believe God applies it to the cutting of his children's names unto the very palms of His hands, arguably the most tender place on the human body. This passage paints a wonderful picture-the engraving of the names of the redeemed in the broken body of Jesus. The names carved into the hand of God were written by the precious blood of His Son! (This paragraph in blue is from Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself page 140.)
I am His child. He has called me. He engraved my name before the foundation of the earth. I believe! I have joy in salvation...the thief comes only to kill, steal, and destroy...so when I doubt and question excessively-the enemy steals my joy. Then I'm not contagious and the world does not see anything different in me. I will not let that happen! I will listen to the voice of truth as he calls to his beloved daughter.
Lord let us consistently focus on our great salvation so that our joy may be full!! Thank you for engraving my name on the palm of your hand. Thank you Jesus for shedding your blood to make that possible.
The Hebrew word for engraved is CHAQAQ and it means "to hack". The Hebrew word was used for the act of cutting or chiseling laws into tablets of stone, yet I believe God applies it to the cutting of his children's names unto the very palms of His hands, arguably the most tender place on the human body. This passage paints a wonderful picture-the engraving of the names of the redeemed in the broken body of Jesus. The names carved into the hand of God were written by the precious blood of His Son! (This paragraph in blue is from Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself page 140.)
I am His child. He has called me. He engraved my name before the foundation of the earth. I believe! I have joy in salvation...the thief comes only to kill, steal, and destroy...so when I doubt and question excessively-the enemy steals my joy. Then I'm not contagious and the world does not see anything different in me. I will not let that happen! I will listen to the voice of truth as he calls to his beloved daughter.
Lord let us consistently focus on our great salvation so that our joy may be full!! Thank you for engraving my name on the palm of your hand. Thank you Jesus for shedding your blood to make that possible.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Mark 6:50-52Jesus was quick to comfort them: "Courage! It's me. Don't be afraid." As soon as he climbed into the boat, the wind died down. They were stunned, shaking their heads, wondering what was going on. They didn't understand what he had done at the supper. None of this had yet penetrated their hearts.
Lord, let your Word penetrate my heart. I want to know you, I want to seek your face...I want to know you MORE!
Lord, let your Word penetrate my heart. I want to know you, I want to seek your face...I want to know you MORE!
Meeting Needs
I want to recall something I learned from Beth Moore's Bible Study Living Beyond Yourself. In Mark 6 we see the familiar story of Jesus feeding the 5000. We can learn from his peace during this event. He didn't get all uptight when it was time to eat...He knew His Father would provide. He kept his peace (of course he did...He's Jesus!). He took inventory of what He had...he knew what was going on. He had everyone get it a position to receive...they were all sitting down. Then He turned to his Father to provide. And boy did he ever! He will always supply more than our needs if we will just allow him the opportunity. If we will just trust him! His word says in Philippians 4:19 that he will meet all our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Here are Beth's four insights which extend the peace of God's provision (page 103):
1. He made them aware of their need
2. He took what little they had
3. He placed them in a posture to rest in His provision
4. He gave them immeasurably more than they could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)Lord, let me be like Jesus in this example. Let me keep the peace that you have given me even in times of need. Open my eyes to see things as you do. Lord let me trust you and get into a position to receive. I believe that you will meet all my needs. Father, you know my needs even before I ask. I thank you that you will provide for me according to your glorious riches, In Jesus name-Amen
Here are Beth's four insights which extend the peace of God's provision (page 103):
1. He made them aware of their need
2. He took what little they had
3. He placed them in a posture to rest in His provision
4. He gave them immeasurably more than they could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)Lord, let me be like Jesus in this example. Let me keep the peace that you have given me even in times of need. Open my eyes to see things as you do. Lord let me trust you and get into a position to receive. I believe that you will meet all my needs. Father, you know my needs even before I ask. I thank you that you will provide for me according to your glorious riches, In Jesus name-Amen
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