Category: Story Time

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Which story do you believe (Part 4)

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Isaiah 45:5 NIV
“I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me”

In context this Old Testament verse was written to the Isrealites but the story it tells extends to all humanity.  This story is rich and gives a precious insight to who God really is.  Even though we fail to acknowlege and appreciate it, God says He strengthens and equips us.  When we rise in the morning God says it is I who provides you the strength to do so.  When we succeed at our job and get that promotion God says it is I who equiped you will the ability to do so.  When we do good for others God says it is I who provided the means for you to do so. God’s love for humanity and His common grace is at work 24/7.  Do you believe that?  Or do you believe the world’s story that we pull ourselves up from our bootstraps?

My oldest daughter came home from her first symester at college to spend Christmas with us. I asked her what were some of the things she learned being on her own for the first time.  The first thing she said was “I finally started to realize all the things you and mom had done for me.”  At that moment I wanted to give her everything her heart desired.  How much more would our heavenly Father want to bless us if we would just acknowledge Him?  How much more could our heavenly Father bless us if we would just achnowledge Him?

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

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Which story do you believe (Part 3)

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Isaiah 43:7
“Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

You and I were made to worship God.  We are created for His pleasure.  This is the story the Bible teaches about our purpose for living.  What a constrast to the prevailing thought about our lives’ purpose. What story do you subscribe to in finding your life’s meaning?  Is it climbing the corporate ladder and being a sucess? Is growing your business your life’s ambition? Is it raising your kids to be the best they possibly can be?  These “purposes” in and of themselves are not bad, they are just mis-categorized.  They are not purposes at all.  They are means by which you are to fulfill your true purpose which is to please God.  Being a Godly co-worker, raising your kids in a God fearing manner, running your business in a Christ like fashion.  In all arenas making God’s pleasure your focus rather than your own personal fulfillment.

Interesting fact: The Self Help industry is a 10 billion dollar industry (in the US alone).  Bibles are free.  Believing in stories other than God’s story will cost you.  Not only in this life but also for eternity (II Cor. 5:10).

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Which story do you believe? (Part 2)

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John 19: 28-30 NIV

28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

When Jesus said “It is finished.” He was telling a story. Do you believe it? Or do you believe the many other stories? Stories like:

“I need to clean myself up before I come to Christ”
“I am a self made (wo)man”
“I’m a good person”
“I know how best to live my life”
“I’ve sinned too much. God can’t forgive me”
“There are many ways to heaven”

I could go on and on. Everyday, multiple times a day we are faced with alternate stories. When Jesus said “It is finished”. He meant it. Carrying around guilt and shame for the wrong you have done. Jesus said…It is finished! I took that for you. Trying to figure out life with self help books and seminars. Jesus said…It is finished! I am the light unto your path. Jesus’ story doesn’t have an end. His story is eternal life. What does your story end with?

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Which story do you believe? (Part 1)

Our lives are inundated with stories. All day and all night stories are in the news, stories at the work place, at the grocery store, in the department store. We can’t escape them and it is the ones we believe that determine our behavior. The weather person paints a picture of sunny skies all day yet that old pain in your joints tells you there is rain coming. Which do you believe? Which ever one you do will determine how you dress for the day. Or your doctor tells you that your blood sugar levels are too high and you need to reduce carbs and sugar in your diet. Yet that Krispy Kreme commercial tells you there is no harm in stopping by when the Hot Light is on and partaking of a half dozen right of the oven glazed donuts. Which do you believe? Which ever one you do will determine how you manage your health. You see we live our lives based on which stories we believe.

The most important verse in the Bible, Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”, tells a story. The question is do you believe it? Or do you believe the world’s story? If you do believe Genesis 1:1 then do you live your life as if you believe it? When you believe the weather forecast you also believe the high temp, the low temp, the pollen count, and the 10 day outlook. You believe it all…dress accordingly, adjust your activities, and even begin to take allergy medicine if the forecast indicates a high pollen count. If you believe Genesis 1:1, do you believe the rest of the Bible? Do you adjust your living, your thinking, or your outlook according?