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Posts Tagged ‘Phil 04’

>Shouting

>Chilean minors, once thought dead, captive under ground for over a month are rescued to shouts of joy. Expected – their captivity is over!

50,000 football fans shouting in the stadium, perhaps just as many shouting in their homes at the TV screen. Why? They like the game, it is fun to shout and be emotionally engaged. Expected, they enjoy the game!

To remaining quiet in either scenario is a sign of disinterest, perhaps even being cold hearted.

Realizing what God has done should, similarly, evoke a shout or two!

“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” – Psalm 5:11

“LET” – meaning something that would occur if not prevented.

I learn at least three (3) things from this passage:

  1. Church doesn’t have to be quiet to be respectful, we should let it be a little noisy sometimes;
  2. God’s salvation is a “Know-So!” kind – knowing, now, we are released from guilt, the captivity of obsessions, and a certain fate worse than death1;
  3. Following God is expected to be an enjoyable experience, even through difficulties2 – if our walk is not joyful we need to find out why.

I think I’ll go shout for a while!

– fritz

1 – Matthew 10:28
2 – Philippians 4:7

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Fat Fallible Fears

Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; … But Esau … threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. – Genesis 33:1,4

The patriarch, Jacob, had wronged his brother and for twenty (20) years dreaded the inevitable reunion. When he saw Esau and his four hundred armed men he knew he was toast — until his brother kissed him!

But all those fears wrong. The toll they exacted for nothing.

People do very foolish things with nothing but their own fears as motivations — and sometimes our worst fears turn out completely false. There is a better alternative.

“Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.” – Philippians 4:6

I heard an old preacher say, “When you’re coming to a brick wall, trust God will either move the wall or make a hole big enough for your head to fit through.”

fritz@langgang.com

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My nine(9) year old son doesn’t act as mature as my thirty-one(31) year old yet I am not disappointed in him at all. My heart is filled with joy just being with him and watching him grow — every parent knows why!

He is supposed to act like he’s nine because he is nine. His fourteen(14) year old brother looks at him with disgust, “Mom! He is acting so childish!!”

A father’s heart is different from a brother’s!

I listened to a message by Mike Bickle and opened a whole new understanding of how God can be happy with us with all our shortcomings. Our Heavenly Father rejoices in our sincerity and understands our immaturity — he’s happy with our changed heart through Christ, our growth and future.

The Bible says to think on that which is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report and what is virtuous and praise worthy – it will make us happy! (Philippians 4:8)

This is exactly what God, our Heavenly Father does with us and it makes him happy.

– Fritz@langgang.com

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