One of those.. woooo .. moments

You ever had one of those days.. just nothing seems to be going right. You're tired, you're frustrated, you just can't see the end of the tunnel and you know that the light is really a train coming at you? Had one of those yesterday. Kinda still having one today, truth be told.

But, I found some time out of the day to stop and pray a little. Try to refocus, try to get back to what's important. So I offered up my moment of silent petition, sure that through all the turmoil, I would just have more turmoil on the other side. And I did. My day didn't seem to get better, it just kept right on going.

I finally got a break toward the end of my day, and opened up my Google reader and read my well over due reading for the day (which was about 16 days late). It happened to be Ezekiel 33 and 34 and 1 Peter 5. Talk about God showing up. I read it like I haven't read anything in a while. Devoured it. Couldn't stop.

Why? Well, part of my prayer was for God to clarify my situation. And He did just that. Those versus were like God Himself going.. see, here it is.. just a reaffirmation really, but man, you just got to love those 'woooo' moments.

TRUTH

Just reading a few things today, and something came to mind.. an acronym for truth that might have something more to it.

Tough
Relational
Uncompromised
Thoughtful
Honest

For truth to be effective, it has to exhibit all those points. I am sure there are more, but I like how that sums up.

Are you willing...

God has called you. He prepared a way for you to come to Him. He is running down the road toward you.

Will you desperately pursue Him? Will you abandon all else to run to Him? Will you embrace the call that is drawing you home into His open arms?

The work of the cross behind us, the throne of God before us, will you heed the voice of God in your life, regardless of where it might lead you?

He did not call you to safety, security, comfort levels, or peace the way the world would understand these things.

He has called you out of darkness, He has called you out of death.

He has called you to war. He has called you to live dangerously. He has called you to action.

Wake up. Hear where He would have you go. Hear what He would have you do.

Step up, step out. Go!

And then, when you step across the door of eternity and stare the creator in the eyes you can hear these words that He will say to you...

"Well done. Enter into your rest."

Give thanks...

The Thanksgiving holiday has just passed. Did you take time out of your holiday to stop and thank anyone? Did you take the time to thank God for all that you have? Or what He has done in you life this year?

I had the privilege to teach a sermon the Sunday before, where I talked to the students about giving thanks. It's so easy in our day to day routine to forget to say thank you, even to those who deserve it, like the guy holding the door open, or the person who lets you into the flow of traffic, or the person who makes you your morning cup of coffee.

The way I see it is, if we forget to give thanks to those who do for us, and have a material presence in our life, how much more so do we forget to say thank you to God. To turn to Him, and just appreciate Him for being Him.

Look at the verses below, and ponder on them, meditate on what God would say to you through them. And then, take some time, and just thank God, really.
Hebrews 12:28

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,”
Colossians 3:16

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Chronicles 16:8

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.”
Psalm 136:1,26

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.”