I did it. I finally read through the Bible in a year. This was one of my goals for 2009. One of few goals I accomplished. I cannot explain the feeling, but it's good. I've already set another goal for next year. This year I read the New American Standard straight through. Next year I will take a different attempt. My reading will jump around a bit but still will finish the whole Bible in one year. I was thinking of tackling the Amplified Bible. Besides just reading I will be working on my prayer life as well. My system you may ask is this.
scripture
observation
application
prayer
This will be accompanied by journaling everyday. I hope to see some growth from this new discipline. My pastor says we need a plan for our spiritual growth and this plan must include filling ourselves with God's Word.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Who Are You Reflecting?
It's almost Christmas day, I have many things going on, and I'm working Christmas Eve. I've been swirling with thoughts and no time to blog. I've had some things on my heart that I want to share. I figured now would be best considering all the traveling and family time coming up shortly.
Getting to the point, I've been feeling compassion for those individuals who claim to follow Christ but their lives don't show it. What they do behind closed doors is nothing more than SIN. My heart goes out to these individuals who serve in churches and then undermine the Word of God which we are to live by. What gets me is other people telling me what awesome Christian people they are and all I hear are four letter words. I see them drinking alcohol like its going out of style and hear of movies they watch that most pagans wouldn't even watch.
Let me back track a little here and say that I am not near the perfect Christian man I would like to be. Sometimes I have horrible thoughts. Sometimes I say horrible things. I bless God one minute then turn around and curse man the next. Just like Paul mentions in Romans about waging war with the flesh, I find myself doing the very things I hate. But I can assuredly tell you that Jesus Christ knows those that truly try to conquer the sinful nature in His power. His eyes are on the ones who aren't just hearers of His Word but doers.
The type of people I encounter are pretty sure they are going to heaven. What I see are people holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power...(2 Tim. 3:5). Another scripture I have been taken to is that of Hebrews 10:26-29 that says...(vs. 26)"For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge to the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,(vs, 27) but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which sill consume the adversaries. (vs. 28)Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. (vs. 29)How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?" I also can go back to the parable of the ten virgins that depicts the churchgoers. Jesus is coming back for His spotless bride but His bride is not ready. Many will be outside the gates crying because they cannot get in. Only people who obey God can enter into heaven. The bride must stop sinning because God's bride is holy.
That should be a scary thing to all people. Like verse 31 says "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
We the bride need to ready ourselves for His return. When we go out, blood bought children of God, we should be reflecting God. Of course we should be reflecting God behind closed doors as well. Even in hunter safety course we were taught to do what is right even when no one is looking. It's called integrity people, hello. The more time we spend with God, the more He can shape our character to resemble Him.
Getting to the point, I've been feeling compassion for those individuals who claim to follow Christ but their lives don't show it. What they do behind closed doors is nothing more than SIN. My heart goes out to these individuals who serve in churches and then undermine the Word of God which we are to live by. What gets me is other people telling me what awesome Christian people they are and all I hear are four letter words. I see them drinking alcohol like its going out of style and hear of movies they watch that most pagans wouldn't even watch.
Let me back track a little here and say that I am not near the perfect Christian man I would like to be. Sometimes I have horrible thoughts. Sometimes I say horrible things. I bless God one minute then turn around and curse man the next. Just like Paul mentions in Romans about waging war with the flesh, I find myself doing the very things I hate. But I can assuredly tell you that Jesus Christ knows those that truly try to conquer the sinful nature in His power. His eyes are on the ones who aren't just hearers of His Word but doers.
The type of people I encounter are pretty sure they are going to heaven. What I see are people holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power...(2 Tim. 3:5). Another scripture I have been taken to is that of Hebrews 10:26-29 that says...(vs. 26)"For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge to the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,(vs, 27) but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which sill consume the adversaries. (vs. 28)Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. (vs. 29)How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?" I also can go back to the parable of the ten virgins that depicts the churchgoers. Jesus is coming back for His spotless bride but His bride is not ready. Many will be outside the gates crying because they cannot get in. Only people who obey God can enter into heaven. The bride must stop sinning because God's bride is holy.
That should be a scary thing to all people. Like verse 31 says "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
We the bride need to ready ourselves for His return. When we go out, blood bought children of God, we should be reflecting God. Of course we should be reflecting God behind closed doors as well. Even in hunter safety course we were taught to do what is right even when no one is looking. It's called integrity people, hello. The more time we spend with God, the more He can shape our character to resemble Him.
Friday, December 18, 2009
If I Could Write A Letter To Myself
If I could write a letter to me when I was younger. I would write.
Dear Myself,
I'm not going to give too much of your future away by telling you to avoid certain down falls and heart aches because they all lead up to this day and place. This day and place will be very special to you and there is nothing in the world that could change it for the better.One thing I will give you a heads up on. When you are 31 you will meet the most special, precious, loving and beautiful woman of your dreams. Remember to always treasure her with everything you have. Hold on to her for dear life. Trust her no matter what attacks your mind. Put a ring on her finger as soon as you can and ask her for forever. She will be your everything and make your heart smile. Remember that I love you and that's why I'm writing this letter to me, I mean you. I don't want you to miss out on the love of your life. This person will make you forget all the hurt you've ever felt and make any pain in your life melt away to nothing. She will fill that empty void in your life. Treat her with the respect and love she deserves and never, I mean ever take her for granted. She will be the world to you and make your life long dreams come true. Also, don't forget to thank God for every moment you have with her, He is the foundational reason for your coming together.
Until then,
You, me, Michael Dean Nissen
Dear Myself,
I'm not going to give too much of your future away by telling you to avoid certain down falls and heart aches because they all lead up to this day and place. This day and place will be very special to you and there is nothing in the world that could change it for the better.One thing I will give you a heads up on. When you are 31 you will meet the most special, precious, loving and beautiful woman of your dreams. Remember to always treasure her with everything you have. Hold on to her for dear life. Trust her no matter what attacks your mind. Put a ring on her finger as soon as you can and ask her for forever. She will be your everything and make your heart smile. Remember that I love you and that's why I'm writing this letter to me, I mean you. I don't want you to miss out on the love of your life. This person will make you forget all the hurt you've ever felt and make any pain in your life melt away to nothing. She will fill that empty void in your life. Treat her with the respect and love she deserves and never, I mean ever take her for granted. She will be the world to you and make your life long dreams come true. Also, don't forget to thank God for every moment you have with her, He is the foundational reason for your coming together.
Until then,
You, me, Michael Dean Nissen
Thursday, December 17, 2009
What Are You Made Out Of?
I take a look around me and see that everybody is made of something different. Peoples hearts are hard or soft. When you step out into God's light what happens to your heart? Some peoples hearts seem to be made of soft clay but when the light of God shines upon them their hearts harden and they become bitter. Others seem to have hearts of wax. When their hearts are exposed to the light, they melt and become warm filled with love. I really don't know where I am going with this. So I ask you, when you are exposed to God's light what happens to your heart?
I guess I derive this thinking from the book Exodus. In chapter 9 we see the account of Moses and the plagues. Many times Moses went to Pharaoh telling him to let God's people (Israel) go or this or that is going to take place. It says that Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not heed the warnings. Now in verse 12 we see it says "But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses." Many would assume that this scripture means that the Lord Himself hardened Pharaoh's heart. I'm not convinced of this at all. I think as people these days harden their hearts toward the things of God so did Pharaoh in his day. You look at peoples reasoning, they have to have logic to understand everything. People surely don't live by faith these days. I imagine Pharaoh was the same way. Set in his ways but when Moses came trotting in giving him commands from this so called Almighty God his heart was instantly hardened.
Lets be careful to realize when God is trying to tell us something. When something just doesn't seem logical, it just might be God's light upon you. Lets not harden our hearts towards the things of God and be ready to make any changes to our lives as God sees fit.
I guess I derive this thinking from the book Exodus. In chapter 9 we see the account of Moses and the plagues. Many times Moses went to Pharaoh telling him to let God's people (Israel) go or this or that is going to take place. It says that Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not heed the warnings. Now in verse 12 we see it says "But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses." Many would assume that this scripture means that the Lord Himself hardened Pharaoh's heart. I'm not convinced of this at all. I think as people these days harden their hearts toward the things of God so did Pharaoh in his day. You look at peoples reasoning, they have to have logic to understand everything. People surely don't live by faith these days. I imagine Pharaoh was the same way. Set in his ways but when Moses came trotting in giving him commands from this so called Almighty God his heart was instantly hardened.
Lets be careful to realize when God is trying to tell us something. When something just doesn't seem logical, it just might be God's light upon you. Lets not harden our hearts towards the things of God and be ready to make any changes to our lives as God sees fit.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Open The Door To Love
I've been thinking a lot about love lately. How my ideas and thoughts on love have been changing the longer I live and the closer I get to personally knowing Jesus. I think that's the key right there. Knowing Jesus, knowing love Himself is the foundation. I don't doubt that some one can experience love in some shape or form without Jesus in their life. But love in its fullest can only be experienced in a divine relationship with Christ Jesus Himself. I look at how I used to love and how I'm continually growing in love now. I'm constantly being brought to my knees with the love God offers me. So far from my comprehension, it makes my head hurt trying to fathom such love. Yet it gives me a picture of how the Lord wants me to love and treat others. If you want to experience love to it's fullest, answer the door of your heart. He's there, knocking, waiting, in love, to embrace and accept you into His loving arms. Don't ignore the call, just give up the fight, you too can experience love in its fullest form.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Filled With The Holy Spirit
The sound of a high wind. The ability to speak in foreign languages unlearned by those who spoke. These miraculous occurrences marked the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost to indwell and empower the followers of Christ to turn their world upside down (Acts 17:6).
Does the Holy Spirit Have You?
This same all powerful Holy Spirit indwells God's people today. Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth of this truth by asking, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?" (1Cor. 6:19). Why, then, are we so often powerless, defeated, and fearful? The answer is found in our failure to take this truth to heart. We try to live in our own strength. We don't give the Spirit of God full control over our lives. We grieve the Holy Spirit with our disobedience and quench His power in us by our half heartedness (Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19).
But we don't have to live this way! God's Spirit lives in us, yearning to help us. To be "filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18), we must recognize His presence, depend on Him, and submit to Him. Then, as we "walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16), He will produce in us "the fruit of the Spirit....love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal. 5:22-23).
Another benefit of being Spirit-filled is the assurance that we are God's children. Paul wrote, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:16-17). The path to spiritual power and joy is not that of seeking spiritual gifts but that of dependence upon and submission to the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The Written Word
The written word has the power to change lives. The words written in the Bible have been having their impact for thousands of years. These written words have been changing me for some time now. The power of the written word penetrates where spoken words cannot reach. There is something permanent about the written word. I can speak words to you but they will quickly vanish as soon as spoken unless written down. Think of famous quotes; they still have their impact after 50 or 100 or more years. Like the quote, "The pen is mightier than the sword." A line written in 1839, which holds so much truth. The written word is powerful...persistent...pervasive...a mighty weapon for the Church.
I've written things in my past just because I was bored and it was something particular on my heart. I didn't know it at the time but I was planting a seed that would sprout in someone else. Like planting seed, writing will produce a harvest. I've had people tell me, after reading something I have recently written, it was something they needed to hear at that particular juncture in their life. Not everything we write will have powerful results, but you never now. You first must write it.
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