proverb of the day (yesterday)

in the midst of a tremendous busy season (14 hr days, 8hrs on the weekends) and i start seeing my habits coming out, and people can see it.  for instance, when i usually get frustrated, i tend to do something physical to release my energy.  yesterday around 6pm i had an episode and since i was in an office, i couldn't lift weights or the like, so i threw a roll of trash bags at one coworker and start swinging the water cooler bottle with another coworker.  i think my credability has been lost on them. 

however i do find that the good habits come out as well.  in college, i remember pastor tony chung telling me that i should read a chapter of proverbs a day, on the date.  for example, yesterday was the 22nd of october, so i would read the 22nd chapter of proverbs.  i thank God for that man's counsel because its one of the (few) things that have stuck.  this way you can read the entire book of proverbs 12 times througout the year, and that's a practical way to "write them on the tablet of your heart, bind them around your neck..."

an excerpt:

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, (counsel from wise/mature friends)
      And apply your heart to my knowledge (the knowledge of God);
       18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; (inward realities)
      Let them all be fixed upon your lips, (continuously in conversations)
       19 So that your trust may be in the LORD;
      I have instructed you today, even you.
       20 Have I not written to you excellent things
      Of counsels and knowledge,
       21 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
      That you may answer words of truth
      To those who send to you? (speak truth to the next generation)

isn't it awe-full how we can develop a trust in the Lord, simply by retaining the knowledge of Him within us, and by making it a focal point of our conversations?  and even more, that we all have men and women in our lives to impart wisdom into our hearts that we can be certain of truth?  and even more, that we can give answers of the truth of God to those who ask of us (one generation will commend another of Your name...)

testimony of a life

pq was on point today in his sermon...i was so rocked.

God has come to give us fullness in all that we do and He has asked us to lay it all down that His will may be fulfilled and revealed in our lives.  it's all about the cry in our hearts first, that we will "go where you go, we will say what you say" all without compromise. 

i want it to be said of me, as it was said of David, that I served the purposes of God in my generation (acts 13:36) by the will of God.  i want to know that in the end of my days i loved God in obedience in His calling.  i want to live all my days just to pleasure my Father. 

first love

theCall DC was great...all about gathering with the body of Christ to cry out to God for our nation and for our city.  rend your heart and not your garments. 

i was marked physically as a sign for the spiritual.  deuteronomy 6:4.  it's been said like this--to make the first commandment the first priority of your life.  i've been marked to have covenant love with Jesus!

i've had friends come back from trips to china (and a sister who's still there) that have been bringing back reports like the two spies with favorable reports--this nation can be turned from darkness to light.  is anything too difficult for God?

the olympics begin tonight on 8.8.08 and china is obviously on the forefront of the global stage.  one story in particular has caught my heart.  if anyone is recording the opening ceremony, please let me know.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/08/AR2008080800009.html?hpid=topnews

the operation of the Holy Spirit

i was reminded of this quote after my experiences this weekend, remembering that even in lakeland, worship preceded the supernatural healing that was poured out. 

To teach that the filling with the Holy Spirit is given to the
Christian to provide "power for service" is to teach truth, but not
the whole truth. Power for service is but one effect of the
experience, and I do not hesitate to say that it is the least of
several effects. It is least for the very reason that it touches
service, presumably service to mankind; and contrary to the popular
belief, "to serve this present age" is not the Christian's first

duty nor the chief end of man....

The primary work of the Holy Spirit is to restore the lost soul to
intimate fellowship with God through the washing of regeneration....
God wants worshipers before workers; indeed the only acceptable
workers are those who have learned the lost art of worship. It is
inconceivable that a sovereign and holy God should be so hard up
for workers that He would press into service anyone who had been
empowered regardless of his moral qualifications. The very stones
would praise Him if the need arose and a thousand legions of angels
would leap to do His will.

Gifts and power for service the Spirit surely desires to impart;
but holiness and spiritual worship come first.

- A.W. Tozer