Saturday, December 4, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Love; What is it?
What is love? This is a very hard question to answer; there is a multitude of answers, and you kind of have to find that out on your own. People are always trying to define it, but love is just a word we use to try and explain an unexplainable feeling. There are many types of love. There is the love you feel for your family, your friends, your spouse or bf/gf, but the most important love to know is the love of God. What does the bible say of love?
1 Corinthians 13
Love
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
So, let’s try and break that down: Starting with verse 1-3, If you speak not the words of love you’re just making noise. If you have miraculous abilities and faith, but you do not love, you have nothing. If you give all of yourself, but not in the name of love, it is for nothing.
Now verses 4-7: Basically this means that love is pure. There is only good in love. That is why God triumphs over evil, because the evil do not have the ability to love. This is the greatest weakness of evil.
Verses 8-12: Love is the end all. It never fails it is the greatest gift given to the world by God. His Promise of never-ending love will hold true. It is because of the love of the Lord that we may have eternal life. He loves us so much that he would put all of the sin of humanity on the weight of his son’s shoulders, and that he would sacrifice his son on the cross that we would live forever, and it is through love that God was able to bring his son back from death.
Verse 13: If you have ever asked the question, “What is the meaning of life?” this should answer your question: It is simple really, we are called to have faith, hope and love. To have faith in our Lord. To have hope for ourselves, our families, our friends, our neighbors, in humanity, but most importantly in God. Lastly, and most importantly to live the life of love that God intended us to live. You might hear people say, “Be like Jesus” if you want to be like Jesus all you have to do is to live a life of love.
Spread the love
-Tim Masters
1 Corinthians 13
Love
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
So, let’s try and break that down: Starting with verse 1-3, If you speak not the words of love you’re just making noise. If you have miraculous abilities and faith, but you do not love, you have nothing. If you give all of yourself, but not in the name of love, it is for nothing.
Now verses 4-7: Basically this means that love is pure. There is only good in love. That is why God triumphs over evil, because the evil do not have the ability to love. This is the greatest weakness of evil.
Verses 8-12: Love is the end all. It never fails it is the greatest gift given to the world by God. His Promise of never-ending love will hold true. It is because of the love of the Lord that we may have eternal life. He loves us so much that he would put all of the sin of humanity on the weight of his son’s shoulders, and that he would sacrifice his son on the cross that we would live forever, and it is through love that God was able to bring his son back from death.
Verse 13: If you have ever asked the question, “What is the meaning of life?” this should answer your question: It is simple really, we are called to have faith, hope and love. To have faith in our Lord. To have hope for ourselves, our families, our friends, our neighbors, in humanity, but most importantly in God. Lastly, and most importantly to live the life of love that God intended us to live. You might hear people say, “Be like Jesus” if you want to be like Jesus all you have to do is to live a life of love.
Spread the love
-Tim Masters
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Why Roots?
You may have asked yourself upon visiting this blog, what's with this whole roots thing? Here's your answer:
Psalm 1 (New International Version)
Psalm 1
BOOK I : Psalms 1-41
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
As followers of God we must be planted firmly, that is like roots of a tree. What good is a tree without roots? A tree without roots cannot stand. Neither can we if our roots are not planted in our faith. We must continue to grow in our faith. It's pretty simple: read your Bible, come to church, come to youth group, and live the way all those things teach you to.
-Tim
Psalm 1 (New International Version)
Psalm 1
BOOK I : Psalms 1-41
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
As followers of God we must be planted firmly, that is like roots of a tree. What good is a tree without roots? A tree without roots cannot stand. Neither can we if our roots are not planted in our faith. We must continue to grow in our faith. It's pretty simple: read your Bible, come to church, come to youth group, and live the way all those things teach you to.
-Tim
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Been Walked On?
But the Master said to him, "I know you Pharisees burnish the surface of your cups and plates so they sparkle in the sun, but I also know your insides are maggoty with greed and secret evil. (Luke 11:39)
Some people can tolerate them, some cannot. I suppose it depends on the way you were raised, or how detailed you are as a person. What I'm talking about is dirty carpets, filthy rugs- you know, the kind where you take one look and feel like asking; "hey, ever hear about the invention of the vacuum?"
For a short time in my life I worked for a carpet cleaning company, and believe me- I have seen it all. I have spot treated things that would frighten a Marine, and I've also been called out to clean up cracker crumbs in million dollar homes.
Even though I had a wide variety of experiences, there was one truth that tied it all together: a good cleaning can make all the difference. After a carpet becomes dirt free, it changes the whole appearance of a room. It doesn't matter if that rug was the victim of toddlers, cats, and pasta sauce or just simple little crayon marks: either way it made everything around it look better.
Could I make a comparison to Christ here? Imagine your life being like a carpet. Not that you exist to be walked on, though I'm sure you have felt like that! What I mean is that your existence has a fabric of sorts that tends to soak up the world around it. When you were saved, you were spotless and pristine; unfortunately things didn't stay that way. You've let people and circumstances soil the material of your walk with Christ.
Maybe it was that secret sin that you have hidden, but you are starting to realize that it is as obvious to God as a Kool-Aid spill on a white Berber.
Or perhaps people really have left ugly footprints all over your life- but was it you who opened the door in the first place?
Then there are marks left by uninvited guests who could not care less about the feelings of others.
All these things add up over time and your life continues to get soiled, and though it might not be as obvious to you- it makes everything around you ugly. You feel distant from God, you can't seem to quit fighting with your family and friends, and your last 2000 prayers have been 'bless this food to your bodies'. Guess what- you need a carpet cleaner!
So which type of person are you? There are those who just let it go because they are too prideful to let Jesus do the dirty work of removing the filth of your sin. If this is you- let me remind you of another person who had this attitude as well- the Apostle Peter:
Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet--ever!"
Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing." (John 13:8)
Get the point? Jesus wants you to be a part of what He is doing- but He can't work with filthy rugs! Remember that all it takes is one heartfelt prayer on your part, and Jesus will make you clean. It doesn't matter what you have spilled, or who has treaded over your territory- Jesus can wipe away every stain. Why not put in a call to heaven right now and become as spotless as the day you were saved? Everything around you will be glad you did!
Questions:
1.In what kind of shape are the 'carpets' of your life?
2.How long has it been since you spent time in confession?
3.How has this analogy helped you understand forgiveness?
From:http://www.dare2share.org/devotions/been-walked-on/
Some people can tolerate them, some cannot. I suppose it depends on the way you were raised, or how detailed you are as a person. What I'm talking about is dirty carpets, filthy rugs- you know, the kind where you take one look and feel like asking; "hey, ever hear about the invention of the vacuum?"
For a short time in my life I worked for a carpet cleaning company, and believe me- I have seen it all. I have spot treated things that would frighten a Marine, and I've also been called out to clean up cracker crumbs in million dollar homes.
Even though I had a wide variety of experiences, there was one truth that tied it all together: a good cleaning can make all the difference. After a carpet becomes dirt free, it changes the whole appearance of a room. It doesn't matter if that rug was the victim of toddlers, cats, and pasta sauce or just simple little crayon marks: either way it made everything around it look better.
Could I make a comparison to Christ here? Imagine your life being like a carpet. Not that you exist to be walked on, though I'm sure you have felt like that! What I mean is that your existence has a fabric of sorts that tends to soak up the world around it. When you were saved, you were spotless and pristine; unfortunately things didn't stay that way. You've let people and circumstances soil the material of your walk with Christ.
Maybe it was that secret sin that you have hidden, but you are starting to realize that it is as obvious to God as a Kool-Aid spill on a white Berber.
Or perhaps people really have left ugly footprints all over your life- but was it you who opened the door in the first place?
Then there are marks left by uninvited guests who could not care less about the feelings of others.
All these things add up over time and your life continues to get soiled, and though it might not be as obvious to you- it makes everything around you ugly. You feel distant from God, you can't seem to quit fighting with your family and friends, and your last 2000 prayers have been 'bless this food to your bodies'. Guess what- you need a carpet cleaner!
So which type of person are you? There are those who just let it go because they are too prideful to let Jesus do the dirty work of removing the filth of your sin. If this is you- let me remind you of another person who had this attitude as well- the Apostle Peter:
Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet--ever!"
Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing." (John 13:8)
Get the point? Jesus wants you to be a part of what He is doing- but He can't work with filthy rugs! Remember that all it takes is one heartfelt prayer on your part, and Jesus will make you clean. It doesn't matter what you have spilled, or who has treaded over your territory- Jesus can wipe away every stain. Why not put in a call to heaven right now and become as spotless as the day you were saved? Everything around you will be glad you did!
Questions:
1.In what kind of shape are the 'carpets' of your life?
2.How long has it been since you spent time in confession?
3.How has this analogy helped you understand forgiveness?
From:http://www.dare2share.org/devotions/been-walked-on/
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