The Christian Walk

I was thinking about how there have been many times in life where I have been driven in my quest for God and what he would have me do. He has been working on my heart and I don't have that same drive anymore. It almost makes me worry a bit- like maybe I am not doing all that I should be doing for the Lord. I was wondering this last night in my bed and I turned in my Bible to the passage about how Isaac was the son of promise, while Ishmael on the other hand, was a son of the flesh. Galatians 4:2121 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which n...

I went to see the film; Alice in Wonderland this past weekend with the family. I was a bit disappointed because it wasn't a musical. Otherwise, Johnny Depp was great in it and the queen made the movie more interesting. She had all her subjects cowering. At one point in the movie one of the characters asks her if its better to be loved or feared and she doesn't respond right away. Later on when her subjects begin to get out of control she affirms that indeed, it is better to be feared. If people fear her, then they will do what she says. I was thinking about our great king up in heaven and how he doesn't sit and ponder how he can manipulate us to love him more or fear him- he just is who he is. His love is so perfect that he sent his son to dwell with his creation in humility and die a death so horrific and brutal, so that we can live and have life with him. There is no greater love. This is how he shows his love, and he doesn't force us to love him or fear him- he jus...

Today I was reading the daily "Bible Bus" (Bible in a year) and the reading this morning was Numbers 14. In summary this is the time when God tells the chosen people to take the land of the Canaanites. The spies come back with a bad report about the land- they tell the Israelites that the people there are giants, they are stronger, and the city is "well fortified." Only Caleb and Joshua disagree. In fact, Joshua encourages the camp and says; " The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them." (Numbers 14:7-9) Joshua said four significant things; do not rebel, do not fear the people, they are bread for us, and the Lord is with...

This past Sunday my pastor was discussing the prodigal son and "the older son." He was saying that basically neither one was really interested in the father, but only what they could get from the father. In my walk as a Christian I must admit that I have been in both camps. I've been the son who was desperate, tired, out of resources, completely broken, and had nothing to offer. I've walked the path of humility back to the father. Its difficult because I realized that I am absolutely nothing, I have nothing, and I was that smelly filthy rags person-that the father took back. I think that the son knew deep in his heart, that the father was good and although he didn't deserve to come back and get anything-he realizes that he has nothing, and is nothing without the father. What joy when the son comes back to the Father and the Father restores him and hugs him and gives him the best- has a celebration for this smelly, dirty, sinful man! That is our wonderful Father! T...