SNOW

Here in the Northeast, we are digging out from about 25 inches of snow; we are snowed in here in the city… plenty of food and water though.  We may try to venture out to a Super Bowl Party tonight.  We are jumping on the Saints bandwagon since we have so many friends in NOLA and we have spent so much time in that city, helping to rebuild their lives since Katrina.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you all in the Lower Ninth Ward; we hope to make it back there some day in the future, and we hope to celebrate with you as the Saints go marching into Super Bowl history!

taking prayer seriously…

I am part of a group of young people who are exploring taking prayer seriously; committed to seeking after the heart of God by praying different types of prayer and learning to pray at all times in all situations.  We are guided by a book written by Richard J. Foster entitled, “Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home”  We have learned in the book that Foster highlights 21 different types of prayer recored throughout the scripture that a variety of people prayed in their time of need; while on their journey to walk closely with God.  Our journey has begun… and we will outline the different types of prayer here.  We invite you to join in with us, taking prayer seriously to see how God responds!

Our first type of prayer is called, “simple prayer”.  It is the most common form of prayer recorded in the Bible.  According to Foster, simple prayer “involves ordinary people bringing ordinary concerns to a loving and compassionate Father… We do not pretend to be more holy, more pure or more saintly than we actually are. (pg. 10)

Psalm 119:97… “Oh, how I love your law!  It is my meditation all day long.”

can you hear and see me?

no getting the rss feed on the symlive site for my leaders… why?  curse this thing called the world wide web.

a new year… a new decade!

Here I am again, preparing to complain about how I never have enough time to write anything significant on this blog.  After all, it is a new year and the beginning of a new decade and one would hope that one could turn over “a new leaf” especially at this time of year.  The future looks brighter than it has in a while… I will find the time to write and I will search my heart and my soul for things that matter that need to be in print.  And one day, with discipline in my front pocket and confidence around my neck, I will write often and more and will one day write a book or something that resembles a book.  A NYT bestseller is not a goal but only God can know that… Happy New Year/Happy new decade!

looking…

I know I do not have very many readers of this blog yet.  It didn’t help matters that I did not update it for 3 months either.  In this crazy season of stress, shopping, and searching for the perfect gift… if you have been reading the Celtic Advent scripture and come to rely on it, I have moved it to our website… homepage:  www.impactlanco.com

Enjoy the first day of December and wish for snow; snow will lift your spirits and cleanse your soul!

give thanks for the Spirit…

Celtic Advent… 11/29

Follow the path of truth to the manger to see for your self… seeing is believing!  It is the kingdom way!  You can find these words of truth and challenge in the Bible, God’s Holy word to us!  Find the connecting points from each passage…

Psalm 45:1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

Leviticus 26:2-4 Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD. 3 If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit.

Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

give thanks for God’s power…

Celtic Advent… 11/28

Follow the path of truth to the manger to see for your self… seeing is believing!  It is the kingdom way!  You can find these words of truth and challenge in the Bible, God’s Holy word to us!  Find the connecting points from each passage…

Psalm 104:19-23 The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. 20 You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. 21 The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. 22 The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens. 23 Then man goes out to his work, to his labour until evening.

Isaiah 45:3-7 I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. 4 For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. 5 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, 6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. 7 I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.

Mark 1:21-32 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” 25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching–and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.

give thanks for the “dark” moments…

The holidays bring sadness and pain for lots of people; grieving the loss of loved ones, reflecting on broken relationships, attempting to manufacture joy when life seems so depressing, and unresolved conflict that lingers like a scented candle.  We all face “dark” moments in our lives… we all face the challenges that life throws at us.  We are all broken in some way, big or small.  Yet, these passages of scripture remind us today that God is in our companion, even-in-our darkest-moments; He never leaves our side, and we need to remember to give thanks for His presence.  Whether we are in the pit, angry and wanting to blame Him for our stuff, or when our expectations do not get met.  God is with you today, no matter where you are or where you find yourself.  God is there… with you… ready to heal.  Ask BOLDLY for a rescue!

Celtic Advent… 11/27

Follow the path of truth to the manger to see for your self… seeing is believing!  It is the kingdom way!  You can find these words of truth and challenge in the Bible, God’s Holy word to us!  Find the connecting points from each passage…

Psalm 30:1-5 I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. 3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. 4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Job 2:7-13 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. 11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

John 11:32-40 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

give thanks for a way out…

I hope today was a day for you to gather with family and friends around a table, eating and talking and sharing memories of redemption, mountain-top events, low-lying valley adventures, and the real life moments that make up our lives.  Give thanks to God because He always provides a way out and a place of refuge and rescue.  Give thanks because the Lord is good, and He saves with His mighty strength and power; He saves because of His great love for you and I.  Happy Thanksgiving… may the blessings of our Savior flow down like a gentle, refreshing rain; washing you with peace and joy!

Celtic Advent… 11/26

Follow the path of truth to the manger to see for your self… seeing is believing!  It is the kingdom way!  You can find these words of truth and challenge in the Bible, God’s Holy word to us!  Find the connecting points from each passage…

Psalm 116:3-4 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, save me!”

Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Luke 21:21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.

give thanks for the boundaries…

It’s time to give thanks… in all circumstances, in every relationship, at every time of day!  Creation cries out with thanksgiving and humanity must do the same.  Spend some time in the next day or two giving thanks and saying thanks to those who have walked with you on the journey of life.  Remember to give thanks to God for giving you life and giving you a purpose and a plan that will be and must be good!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Celtic Advent… Day 10

Follow the path of truth to the manger to see for your self… seeing is believing!  It is the kingdom way!  You can find these words of truth and challenge in the Bible, God’s Holy word to us!  Find the connecting points from each passage…

Psalm 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, 5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.

Judges 21:16-25 And the elders of the assembly said, “With the women of Benjamin destroyed, how shall we provide wives for the men who are left? 17 The Benjamite survivors must have heirs,” they said, “so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out. 18 We can’t give them our daughters as wives, since we Israelites have taken this oath: `Cursed be anyone who gives a wife to a Benjamite.’ 19 But look, there is the annual festival of the LORD in Shiloh, to the north of Bethel, and east of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem, and to the south of Lebonah.” 20 So they instructed the Benjamites, saying, “Go and hide in the vineyards 21 and watch. When the girls of Shiloh come out to join in the dancing, then rush from the vineyards and each of you seize a wife from the girls of Shiloh and go to the land of Benjamin. 22 When their fathers or brothers complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Do us a kindness by helping them, because we did not get wives for them during the war, and you are innocent, since you did not give your daughters to them.’ ” 23 So that is what the Benjamites did. While the girls were dancing, each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife. Then they returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and settled in them. 24 At that time the Israelites left that place and went home to their tribes and clans, each to his own inheritance. 25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

1 Corinthians 7:9-12 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her