Bibliotaph (1 John 5.14-15)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “bibliotaph.”  I remember the first semester of my Masters program. I have never done so much reading in my life. In fact, up until that point I don't think I had ever read an entire book all the way through. Sure, I had read parts of books for school and for fun. But, I really did not have a love for reading. That's when I realized that if I was going to get through a full Masters degree program I was going to need to love reading… and fast. That was the only way I was going to be able to read 10 huge books a quarter. I prayed hard, and miraculously, God answered.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” ~1 Jn. 5:14-15

My question is: do you pray for the stuff that God would want for you? One of the main lessons I learned in the beginning of that program was if I prayed according to God's will, he would answer. And, I am absolutely positive that there is no way that I would have made such a miraculous jump from hating to read, to the other end of the pendulum and loving to read, unless it was by God's divine hand. Now, you may or may not believe that. But, I am a firm believer that if we ask according to God's will, he will answer us. My prayer is that you do just that… Pray according to what you believe God would want for your life. This is tough because we know that sometimes God may not want the things that we do. But, it works out when we trust him. Hey, how else would I have ended up one of the world's great bibliotaphs?

Praying for you,

MO

Evanesce (1 John 2.16-17)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “evanesce.”  This season is pretty crazy.  There are some parts of it that I really enjoy, because it seems there is more time off to reflect.  At the same time, we are all trying to get stuff done like shopping and family time.  So, that makes it a little bit hectic.  But I think there’s a really cool biblical truth in all of this.  We spend a lot of time investing and stuff that is important in this world, but will soon not be a part of eternity.

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

~1 Jn. 2:16-17

My question is: what are your motivations in the stuff that you choose to do in life?  I know that choosing to follow Jesus is not always the easiest thing to do.  In fact, when I began to pursue life the way that God might want, it caused me to change my entire way of doing stuff.  My prayer is that you realize the importance of living and acting for God.  Take the last part of the season and really reevaluate the important stuff, and put it up against worldly things, which will eventually evanesce as we enter eternity.

Praying for you,

MO