For 15 years I have been saying the same thing to all of my patients. I take care of the diagnostic portion of an eye exam in a multi doctor ophthalmology practice. What amazes me is the other day as I repeated for the, let's say 1,000,000th, time for the patient to press forward while viewing their pressure under a microscope, it hit me.
Let me explain. Patient's must place their chin in a cup and press their forheads up against a bar so that I can see them properly under a microscope. Now like all microscopes if the object I am viewing is not at exactly the correct distance (really close) then I cannot see it. So I figure if the patient is physically pressing their head against the bar then they can't move backwards.
Now let's analyze this. If one is pressing forward then they are not moving backwards. It seems elementary right? Well in Phillipians 3:14 it tells us to, "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
God is telling us to press on or forward so that we don't fall back just like when I am using a microscope. We as humans think we can do it ourselves for a little while and even think that we are not moving in either direction, towards or away from God or trouble. In reality, we are always in motion. There is no stopping to pause, our minds and souls are always on the move towards something. If we are not careful it could be towards sin and away from God.
Now God tells us so many things for our own good and if we would just stretch out and reach towards those things, no matter how little we actually accomplish ourselves, God uses that forward motion to keep us in balance, always on the right side of life.
So in our desire to not move, we have to realize that to stop is to sink to the bottom of the ocean like a shark who stops moving. He might stop but his body then sinks and decomposes. We must listen to God's Word in His Son and continually aim to be more like Jesus and in doing so we will not have the opportunity to fall back.
Press On
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Primary
Well, I had the joy and priviledge of voting last night for who (or is it whom) should lead our party to the presidency. It really is a priviledge to be allowed to vote. I remember when I understood that. I was taking a US History class in college and listening to my zealous teacher. We spent a lot of time on the candidates for presidents in the late 1800's and early 1900's. There were a lot more serious reasons for running for president then then there seem to be now. It is kind of disconcerting to see the decrease in realistic governing versus a virtual type that is only what any one person "wants" for the moment.
This reminds me that we need to seek the Primary things of life. Nowadays many would list their homes, job and family, possibly in that order. But where is God in all of that. Each of those things are good but without God where is the moral guidance. I think Webster said it best in 1800 when he said, "To preserve the government we must also preserve morals. Morality rests on religion; if you destroy the foundation, the superstructure must fall. When the public mind becomes vitiated and corrupt, laws are a nullity and constitutions are waste paper."
That isn't to say that religion and government should mix but that those who are secure in their understanding of who God is and His sovereignty of all life as the source are enabled to care for and govern one another. Without a moral giver, why would anyone want to be moral. One must believe in the moral lawgiver because it says in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." See if we believe that He exists and seek Him out He rewards us. This is our opportunity to worship Him for Who He is and to develope that standards that He has laid out for us. As we develope those standards we begin to have morals. Morals are the foundation for action. Without it actions become undefined and lead to absurdity.
Look to the Lord as the Primary reason for life, love and justice and the things we love, our families, friends and fellow countrymen will have more important things to stand for.
Put Jesus first in your life and you too will have and enjoy the priviledges of the Primary and I don't just mean for presidency.
This reminds me that we need to seek the Primary things of life. Nowadays many would list their homes, job and family, possibly in that order. But where is God in all of that. Each of those things are good but without God where is the moral guidance. I think Webster said it best in 1800 when he said, "To preserve the government we must also preserve morals. Morality rests on religion; if you destroy the foundation, the superstructure must fall. When the public mind becomes vitiated and corrupt, laws are a nullity and constitutions are waste paper."
That isn't to say that religion and government should mix but that those who are secure in their understanding of who God is and His sovereignty of all life as the source are enabled to care for and govern one another. Without a moral giver, why would anyone want to be moral. One must believe in the moral lawgiver because it says in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." See if we believe that He exists and seek Him out He rewards us. This is our opportunity to worship Him for Who He is and to develope that standards that He has laid out for us. As we develope those standards we begin to have morals. Morals are the foundation for action. Without it actions become undefined and lead to absurdity.
Look to the Lord as the Primary reason for life, love and justice and the things we love, our families, friends and fellow countrymen will have more important things to stand for.
Put Jesus first in your life and you too will have and enjoy the priviledges of the Primary and I don't just mean for presidency.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
How long will this last?
I wonder how long I might be interested in doing this? Is it something worthwhile or am I wasting precious time? I probably should be in the Word and not typing out my thoughts to no one imparticular. I could be speaking directly to God. He at least would have some incredible feedback.
I do realize that He is always listening. Even as I am typing this. I remember one time while riding on the back of a motorcycle. I had the nicest new helmet on. You know the kind where the whole front piece opens up so that you can put your glasses on. It fit so nicely and was really quiet. It was so quiet in there I got to looking around at God's creation. Wow, it took my breath away. Then as the silence grew thicker, I realized for the very first time that I was not alone, even in the helmet. God was right there with me, admiring His handiwork and smiling at my recognition of His presence.
He said, " And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28:20b). Jesus was with me at that very moment just as He is with me now and forever. Praise God that our God is omnipresent (everywhere) and my favorite, immutable, (unchangable).
Praise you Lord and thank you for your grace and love,
Amen
I do realize that He is always listening. Even as I am typing this. I remember one time while riding on the back of a motorcycle. I had the nicest new helmet on. You know the kind where the whole front piece opens up so that you can put your glasses on. It fit so nicely and was really quiet. It was so quiet in there I got to looking around at God's creation. Wow, it took my breath away. Then as the silence grew thicker, I realized for the very first time that I was not alone, even in the helmet. God was right there with me, admiring His handiwork and smiling at my recognition of His presence.
He said, " And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28:20b). Jesus was with me at that very moment just as He is with me now and forever. Praise God that our God is omnipresent (everywhere) and my favorite, immutable, (unchangable).
Praise you Lord and thank you for your grace and love,
Amen
Saturday, February 2, 2008
In The Beginning
This is the very first blog of my life. The truth is I don't even know why I built it except that we are praying for a friend of mine's daughter who broke her back and we were getting updates from her blog page.
It is amazing to see the Hand of God in her surgery and her faith in Him. The night before the surgery she was laughing and even praying with her friends both there with her and her parents and those not with her via spyke. It is so amazing how God has enabled us to be so close even though we are thousands of miles away.
Praising God in all that He has done and all that He is doing,
In Christ Alone,
Jennifer
It is amazing to see the Hand of God in her surgery and her faith in Him. The night before the surgery she was laughing and even praying with her friends both there with her and her parents and those not with her via spyke. It is so amazing how God has enabled us to be so close even though we are thousands of miles away.
Praising God in all that He has done and all that He is doing,
In Christ Alone,
Jennifer
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