tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68329094461274472332024-03-17T21:04:25.644-06:00conservation of momentumthoughts from my pursuit of Christshanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.comBlogger2033125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-53074228915312980442024-03-10T07:09:00.000-06:002024-03-10T21:09:14.991-06:0040 moves after leaving Rameses<div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Yahweh instructed Moses to record the stages of their journey. In Numbers 33:6-48, there are forty moves recorded after leaving Rameses after the Passover. That is an average of one move per year.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I'm still savoring the end of the book of Exodus:</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">Exodus 40:36-38 NIV<br></div><div dir="auto"><i>In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of [Yahweh] was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels</i>.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">They saw the cloud of Yahweh lift forty times, and they followed forty times.<br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, I want to watch you and follow you. Holy Spirit, I want to go with you and keep in step with you. Please calibrate my senses to hone in on your presence and track you. I love you.</div></div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-58916004159649481432024-03-07T05:57:00.000-07:002024-03-08T04:42:51.446-07:00Water, Purification<div dir="auto">Coincidentally, or maybe divinely orchestratedly, I attended two water conferences this week, and I read Numbers 19-20 in my daily reading (water of cleansing and water from the rock, respectively) earlier this week.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">On the two flights yesterday, I read the first half of the book, <u>In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day</u>, and Chapter 3 about fear challenged me to think about how I fear failure. And, as a recovering perfectionist, I struggle with categorizing anything I do that falls short of perfection as failure. Thus, I struggle with considering myself a failure, categorically. I want to be freed from this mindset so that I can be more impactful at helping provide safe drinking water to people around the world.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, deliver me from perfectionism. Perfectionism is not the mind of Christ. I break agreement with perfectionism. I break agreement with thinking of myself as a failure. I take courage in knowing that you are orchestrating my advancements and victories. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-28359253679735511132024-03-02T06:35:00.000-07:002024-03-02T13:25:05.996-07:00Faithfulness<div dir="auto">My word for this year is faithfulness.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">Galatians 5:22-25 NIV</div></div><div dir="auto"><i>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.</i></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I've been meditating on how faithful our Father is to us.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, I want to be faithful to you and faithful like you. Please deliver me from trying to please people. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-26159102872287209792024-02-07T21:13:00.001-07:002024-02-07T21:13:48.262-07:00Living in paradise<div dir="auto">The Kingdom of Light is full of peace. It is paradise. <div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Every day can be paradise if we allow His light, life, love, joy, peace, .... to flow through us.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Through me, others will taste and see that Yahweh is good because His goodness will overflow through me.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, thank you for bringing me into the abundant zoe life. Jesus, you are the King of Shalom. Holy Spirit, may the people around me know that paradise is real because of my life. May they see your face in mine. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-74693543902353224582024-01-29T04:22:00.000-07:002024-01-29T15:00:06.855-07:00Perspective on adverse conditions<div dir="auto">Job 31:35. NIV<div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">"<i>Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing</i>.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Our enemy, the accuser, tries to convince us that our Father is the bad guy, that He is the accuser. The accuser wants us to blame our Father for our adverse conditions, and the accuser wants us to think that our Father is indifferent to our pain and cries for help.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Job's first three "friends" thought Job was guilty, and Elihu argues that since God controls the weather and we can't, God would not listen to humans. In one sense, we have no leverage against God to make Him listen to us and answer us, but we learn from David that our Father is compassionate towards us:</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">Psalms 8:3-4 NIV</div><div dir="auto"><i>When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?</i></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Our Father created us to abide with us and love us; we are objects of his affection. So we should show compassion, mercy, and grace to all humans, especially those who are experiencing adversity.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, you are kind, loving, merciful, and full of grace toward us. Father, you sent Jesus because you love the whole world. You cause it to rain on the just, as well as the unjust. Jesus, you showed the Father's affection through beholding and healing people who were hurt. Holy Spirit, please help me defend the Father's reputation against the accusations of the enemy. I love you.</div></div></div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-25966135817757714522024-01-26T05:26:00.000-07:002024-01-26T06:25:14.964-07:00Yearning<div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">Job 19:25-27 NIV</div></div><div dir="auto"><i>I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!</i></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">There are so many things in this world for which people yearn. But none of them will fulfill; nothing will ultimately satisfy except meeting God face to face.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I spend too much of my time thinking about work.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I'm reminded of the lyrics from Shane & Shane's song, Yearn:</div><div dir="auto"><i>Lord I want to yearn for You</i></div><div dir="auto"><i>I want to burn with passion</i></div><div dir="auto"><i>Over You and only You</i></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, you are the only one worth yearning for. I want to have a singular devotion to you that is motivated by a desire to know you and love you, in response to your great love. Holy Spirit, please teach me. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-16360390285057740992024-01-10T05:25:00.000-07:002024-01-10T14:34:40.630-07:00Yahweh is the reference for time<div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">I'm reading the Bible in chronological order this year.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div>I've been contemplating the six days of creation. I previously subscribed to the "young earth" perspective (i.e., that the earth was formed in six literal 24-hr days), but a number of years ago, I relaxed that position because the Hebrew word for "day" in Genesis 1 could also mean "age". I think it is much more important to focus on the fact that Yahweh is the creator than exactly how much time it took based on Gen 1.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">It occured to me over the past couple of days that the tricky point about 24-hr day versus "age" is that Yahweh created light on the first day, and He documented evening and morning in that first day. But He did not create the sun until the fourth day.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">So, what was the source of light on days 1 through 3? How could there be evening and morning on the first three days without the rising and setting of the sun?</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">After a week and a half of pondering, I eventually concluded that Yahweh is the reference for time. He determines what a day is.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, you are the keeper of time. You are eternal. From my perspective within time, you are infinite in both directions of time; but actually, you are outside of time. Timeless. Teach me to number my days. Jesus only had three years of ministry. May my life be lived to the fullest. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-90576709100271236872023-12-20T08:45:00.001-07:002023-12-20T08:45:18.272-07:00Intimacy with God - Knowledge of the Holy<div dir="ltr"><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">Yahweh wants us to know Him. He has wanted closeness with humans since he created us in the beginning. He created Adam and Eve for relationship and intimate fellowship. He created us with a spirit that is compatible with His Spirit.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I am impressed with the multiple layers of intimacy in John 14. It is a hyper-dimensional relationship with Yahweh because of our relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit and also because we are in each, and each is in us. Below, I emphasized relational words/phrases in <b>bold</b>, and I <u>underlined</u> references to or pronouns of the Father, Son, and Spirit.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">John 14 NIV<br><i>15 "If you </i><b style="font-style:italic">love <u>me</u></b><i>, keep </i><span style="font-style:italic">my</span><i> commands. 16 And </i><u style="font-style:italic">I</u><i> will ask the </i><u style="font-style:italic">Father</u><i>, and </i><b style="font-style:italic"><u>he</u> will give</b><i> you another </i><b style="font-style:italic"><u>advocate</u> to help you</b><i> and </i><b style="font-style:italic">be with you forever</b><i>— 17 the </i><u style="font-style:italic">Spirit of truth</u><i>. The world cannot accept </i><u style="font-style:italic">him</u><i>, because it neither sees </i><u style="font-style:italic">him</u><i> nor knows </i><u style="font-style:italic">him</u><i>. But </i><b style="font-style:italic">you know <u>him</u></b><i>, for </i><b style="font-style:italic"><u>he</u> lives with you</b><i> and </i><b style="font-style:italic">will be in you</b><i>. 18 </i><u style="font-style:italic">I</u><i> will not leave you as orphans; </i><b style="font-style:italic"><u>I</u> will come to you</b><i>. 19 Before long, the world will not see </i><u style="font-style:italic">me</u><i> anymore, but </i><b style="font-style:italic">you will see <u>me</u></b><i>. </i><b><i>Because <u>I</u> live, you also will live</i></b><i>. 20 On that day you will realize that </i><b style="font-style:italic"><u>I</u> am in my <u>Father</u></b><i>, and </i><b style="font-style:italic">you are in <u>me</u></b><i>, and </i><b style="font-style:italic"><u>I</u> am in you</b><i>. 21 Whoever </i><b style="font-style:italic">has my commands and keeps them</b><i> is the one who </i><b style="font-style:italic">loves <u>me</u></b><i>. The one who </i><b style="font-style:italic">loves <u>me</u></b><i> will be </i><b style="font-style:italic">loved by my <u>Father</u></b><i>, and </i><b style="font-style:italic"><u>I</u> too will love them</b><i> and </i><b style="font-style:italic">show <u>myself</u> to them</b><i>."</i><br><i>22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" 23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who </i><b style="font-style:italic">loves <u>me</u></b><i> will </i><b style="font-style:italic">obey my teaching</b><i>. My <u>Father</u> will </i><b style="font-style:italic">love them</b><i>, and <u>we</u> will </i><b style="font-style:italic">come to them</b><i> and </i><b style="font-style:italic">make our home with them</b><i>. 24 Anyone who </i>does not <b style="font-style:italic">love <u>me</u></b><i> will not </i><b style="font-style:italic">obey my teaching</b><i>. These </i><b style="font-style:italic">words you hear</b><i> are not my own; they </i><b style="font-style:italic">belong to the <u>Father</u></b><i> who </i><b style="font-style:italic">sent <u>me</u></b><i>.</i><br><i>25 "All this </i><b style="font-style:italic"><u>I</u> have spoken</b><i> while still </i><b style="font-style:italic">with you</b><i>. 26 But the <u>Advocate</u>, the <u>Holy Spirit</u>, whom the <u>Father</u> will </i><b style="font-style:italic">send in my name</b><i>, will </i><b style="font-style:italic">teach you all things</b><i> and will </i><b style="font-style:italic">remind you of everything <u>I</u> have said to you</b><i>. 27 </i><b style="font-style:italic">Peace <u>I</u> leave with you</b><i>; </i><b style="font-style:italic">my peace <u>I</u> give you</b><i>. <u>I</u> do not </i><b style="font-style:italic">give </b><i><b>to you</b> as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.</i></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Practically, what it comes down to is spending time together. Especially, unstructured time. </div><div><br></div><div>So, how do I convince myself to spend time with the most valuable person in the universe? The one who created me and everything else and wants to spend time with me so much that He sacrificed is own Son. </div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><br></div><div>Father, I want to value time with you. My heart and mind are distracted by many things. I want to dedicate time daily to spend with you, like Jesus did. Holy Spirit, how do I do that? Please guide me. I want to grow in closeness with you. Not just knowledge about you. I want to really know you. I love you.</div></div></div> </div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-85927630047544255372023-11-29T19:27:00.001-07:002023-11-29T19:27:20.170-07:00Increasing the knowledge of His glory<div dir="ltr"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Rev 4 (NIV)<br><i>6b In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:<br></i><i>"'Holy, holy, holy<br></i><i>is the Lord God Almighty,'<br></i><i>who was, and is, and is to come."<br></i><i>9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:<br></i><i>11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God,<br></i><i> to receive glory and honor and power,<br></i><i>for you created all things,<br></i><i> and by your will they were created<br></i><i> and have their being."</i></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Presumably, the living creatures covered in eyes would have an acute awareness of God's presence on the throne, and it amazes me that they so are overwhelmed by the holiness, sovereignty, deity, omnipotence, and eternality that they repeat it over and over. (Like an optical signal so bright that it saturates the detector of a spectrophotometer.) In so doing, they are giving glory to God. (In Heaven, I hope I get to learn how glory is measured.) The 24 elders give glory to God, as well.</div><div><br></div><div>The creatures' recitation echoes from the scene in Isaiah 6:</div><div><br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><i>1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3And they were calling to one another:<br></i><i>"Holy, holy, holy is [Yahweh] Almighty;<br></i><i> the whole earth is full of his glory."</i></blockquote><div><br></div><div>The whole earth is already full of His glory. It is everywhere. But what needs to increase is the knowledge of His glory:</div><div><br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Hab. 2:14<br>For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of [Yahweh]<br> as the waters cover the sea.</blockquote><div><br></div><div>I want my life to be constantly increasing the knowledge of the glory of God.</div><div><br></div><div>Father, too much of my life is interfering and distracting from the knowledge of your glory. Holy Spirit, please purify me so that I can be more effective in showing your glory to people around me. Jesus, I want to live like you. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-70532332270167835702023-11-21T05:39:00.000-07:002023-11-21T05:40:10.591-07:00signs of progress<div dir="ltr">Last week, I received positive feedback about my application for tenure; there are still several steps in the approval process. Also, we were able to register our environmental engineering program for a global academic ranking, so that was very encouraging, as well.<div><br></div><div>Father, thank you for the kindness and favor that you have shown me in this professional transition. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-89213845236643006842023-11-06T06:58:00.000-07:002023-11-07T03:46:55.647-07:00father-brother-friend<div dir="auto">When our kids were little, I felt a sobering responsibility to accurately represent the Father to them. I wish I had started working on knowing the Father earlier in my life so that I could have been a better father to my kids. The Father is so good, and I have misrepresented Him so many times.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">When our two oldest boys were baptized, I realized that our children are not actually our own. As a father, I am actually a big brother in the faith, a steward to lead them to know the Father and the Son (the only Begotten Brother). I feel a responsibility to disciple them to know Jesus, love Him, and pursue Him.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Now that our two oldest boys are both in middle school, I'm realizing that I don't have as much time as I thought I did. They want to spend time with their friends. I want to develop a friendship with each of them.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">My relationship with Yahweh is mysteriously multifaceted: I'm a son-brother-friend. I am a son of the Father. I am a brother of Christ. I am a friend of Holy Spirit. Three-in-one. In my relationship with each of our children, I am a father-brother-friend.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, please help me be a good father to our children. I want to represent you well. Jesus, please help me be a good big brother to these younger ones in the faith. I want to be a good example for them to follow. Holy Spirit, please help me be a good friend to these friends of God. I want it to be a good friendship for eternity, overflowing with your eternal love. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-52762165009620599222023-09-05T05:11:00.000-06:002023-09-05T12:25:52.365-06:00Stewardship<div dir="auto">It was a whirlwind of a summer. I went to interview at Tech in early May, we worked a lot preparing the house to show, I had a couple of work trips in June, we moved to Lubbock in mid July, and then we took a quick vacation. Father provided a buyer at the end of July, we started school mid August, and we closed on the sale of our house last week. I am so thankful for Him providing a buyer. He was so faithful to care for us through this transition into our new chapter.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Luke 16 NIV</div><div dir="auto"><i>10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?</i></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Stewardship in the physical domain is practice for stewardship in the spiritual domain.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, thank you providing for us and leading us into this next chapter of our lives in Lubbock. I want to be faithful to leverage physical resources to advance your Kingdom. I want to live a king/priest example in my family and in my new leadership role at work; I want to take care of my wife and kids and the people in our research team. Holy Spirit, I need you every moment. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-67194886770210113472023-07-19T17:10:00.000-06:002023-07-20T14:47:59.547-06:00(in)complete grace<div dir="auto">I've always thought it would be a great privilege to be a professor at Texas Tech, my alma mater.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">During the winter break, Danny asked me if I would consider it. Then in February, he said that he had confirmed that the department chair and dean were supportive and asked me if I would consider being the Director of the Water Resources Center - another amazing opportunity! In April, around Easter, he informed me that he had secured approval from the Provost and the VP of Research for a direct hire, and I went to interview in early May.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Brandi applied for a first grade teacher position on a Saturday evening, got an invitation on Sunday morning for a virtual interview the following day, and they offered her the job at the end of the interview!</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I believe that Father is calling us back to Lubbock. I am taking a step of faith through this open door. I am also choosing to sow seeds of generosity by leaving significant funding for my team at UTEP instead of taking it all with me like most professors do when they move.<br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">We found a rental house in Lubbock for a year, and we moved last week. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">All we need now is for our house in El Paso to sell. I trust that Father's goodness towards us will be fulfilled because we are in His hands, and He loves us abundantly. Yet, my heart feels the tension of wanting the house to sell quickly.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, I know that you are kind and full of grace towards your children. Thank you for your provision and timing. I trust you, and I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-34559304769911403182023-06-21T04:17:00.001-06:002023-06-21T04:17:30.552-06:00Mocked versus approved<div dir="ltr"><div dir="auto">Matthew 15<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">In his "trials", the night before his death, Jesus was rejected and mocked so that I can be accepted and approved. Jesus was scorned and ridiculed, but my Father takes delight in me and sings over me.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Jesus was hung on a cross so that all of the sins of the world could be placed on him and cursed because he was hung on a pole. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div>2 Cor 5:21 NIV</div><div><i>God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.</i></div><div><br></div><div>What a privilege Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had to care for the body of our Lord Jesus Christ after he died! They honored His body by not leaving it exposed overnight and by providing a basic burial with dignity and honor. </div><div><br></div><div>Jesus, thank you for being willing to suffer rejection, mocking, and the curse of sin so that I can be accepted, approved, and blessed. I want to experience the full measure of what you paid for. You bought me an all-access pass, and I feel like I have only been watching from the nosebleeds. You want even more for me than to move from the nosebleeds to the sidelines; you want me to trade places with you in the game. Holy Spirit, please take me there. I want to experience what Jesus bought for me. Everything that I do today, I want to do in love - Christ living in me and through me, revealing the Father. I love you.</div></div> </div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-69975264338574744942023-06-16T06:22:00.000-06:002023-06-16T10:44:48.932-06:00Man's best friend<div dir="auto">Boone is such a loyal dog; he will follow you into whatever room you go and sit down near you.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">This morning, I told him that I really appreciate his loyalty and friendship.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Then the thought occurred to me that the greatest level of friendship is enabled with bidirectional conversation, especially sharing personal thoughts.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I was reminded of what Jesus said in John 15 about us being his friends:</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">John 15:14-15 NIV<br></div><div dir="auto"><i>You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.</i></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I want to be a good friend of God. I don't want to only know about Him; I want to have a dep personal and conversational relationship with Him.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, please guide me to a deeper fellowship with you. I want to know your thoughts, and I want my thoughts to be confirmed to match your thoughts. I want my heart to perfectly match your feelings. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-10593555410086679682023-06-15T05:55:00.000-06:002023-06-15T05:56:14.825-06:00Jesus was falsely accused AND falsely condemned for our benefit<div dir="auto">Mk 14:53-65<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I tend to be overly focused on justice and fairness, perhaps an artifact of being firstborn and/or perfectionist.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Jesus was focused on the joy set before Him, so he was willing to endure the injustices and (Rom 12:1-2). Jesus did not exercise His authority to escape the trial based on false accusations of false teaching or threatening the destruction of the temple. Nor did Jesus object, appeal, or attempt to escape from the false condemnation of blasphemy after He admitted that He is the Christ, the Son of the Blessed. Jesus was ultimately vindicated in the resurrection, and He was willing to endure suffering and wait for the Father's timing. He did it for us.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I want to be like Jesus - willing to deny the desire for immediate vindication without suffering. He was patient because of His love for the Father and for us.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, thank you for your plans, which are better than my plans. Thank you for your ways, which are better than my ways. Jesus, thank you for your example of choosing love and patience over justice for yourself in the moment. Holy Spirit, I need you. Please fill me and overflow through me today. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-91713276475356839372023-06-14T06:48:00.001-06:002023-06-14T06:48:49.267-06:00Disengaging perfectionism<div dir="auto">I am beginning to be more self-aware of my perfectionist tendencies. One of them is a hesitancy to attempt anything that I don't think I can initially do very well, even recreational activities like golf or playing the guitar. <div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">But I am slowly learning to play the guitar. I am trying to recognize those opportunities to push through the discomfort of me being disappointed with myself for not doing something very well initially for the sake of being able to enjoy them and appreciating God's grace that covers over all of my mistakes.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, thank you for your limitless mercy and grace. You cover me. I want to have your perspective of me. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-8118791371184172802023-05-02T05:40:00.000-06:002023-05-02T13:00:11.450-06:00What a privilege to be a child of God!<div dir="auto">Mike and I started Romans 1 on Sunday morning at Dunkin, and Mike pointed out that it is such a blessing to be included in the family of God.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news! God is not holding poeple's sins against them! Jesus has paid the debt in full so that we can come home to the Father with no guilt or shame. And Holy Spirit will cleanse us to the core of who we are! </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">This morning, as I read these verses in Psalm 51, I am so thankful for the Father's goodness and that goodness is a fruit of the Spirit. I want to be good like the Father.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">Psalm 51:6-7, 9-12 ESV<br></div><div dir="auto"><i>Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. ... Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.</i></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, thank you for forgiving my sins and inviting me to come home. Please purify my heart! Make me completely good like you are. Holy Spirit, thank you for your patience with me. I love you!</div></div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-83734719668656537012023-03-26T07:11:00.000-06:002023-03-27T11:53:29.867-06:00God, our Father, is the Creator<div dir="auto">Romans 1, Proverbs 8, Psalm 100<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">The world assaults, undermines, and obscures this fundamental truth.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">So much of our faith begins with the humble acknowledgement that God is the Creator, and we are part of His creation.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">We are the most prized aspect of His creation. We are forever worthy of His love because we are created in His image.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">The enemy does not want us to remember this truth because it is our fundamental identity, the basis of our relationship with our Father who continually demonstrates his immeasurable compassion and affection for us.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, thank you for your love. Thank you for Jesus (the Messiah, a perfect human) making a way for our brokenness to be healed and the glory of our sonship and righteousness to be restored through faith and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. I love you, and I want to walk in the fullness of the abundance that you have for me.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-33290157276310878342023-03-20T06:50:00.000-06:002023-03-20T21:11:11.078-06:00Don't believe everything you think<div dir="auto">Randy Limbird had a bumper sticker on his Toyota Tacoma that said, "Don't believe everything you think".<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I got to know Randy through Paseo church, and I appreciated his curiosity and sincere desire to understand. Brandi and I had the privilege of serving on the elder team with Randy and Cindy. Later, Randy and I had the privilege of serving on the teaching team together, and I learned so much from his teaching, as well as discussing with him what I was preparing to teach.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Randy was a good friend. He actually cared about my well being. We didn't get to hang out that often, but it was a genuine friendship.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">When Randy fell ill in early February, they soon discovered a brain tumor, which was quite a shock because he had just a few weeks before cycled over 100 miles in a single ride. I visited him in the hospital, and Randy did not slip into worry or complaining. He manifested the peace that passes understanding. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I visited Randy at his home a week and a half ago (Wed eve), and at his request, we prayed through Philippians 2-3. Again, no whining or complaining.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">After my Grandma, Aunt Jean, and Uncle George passed from cancer, I regretted that I had not prayed more for them to be healed. When Jill Hunt was diagnosed, I resolved to not miss opportunities to pray for people for miraculous healing. And in the last handful of years, I've tried to follow Jesus's example of commanding healing.<br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">They took Randy to the ER on Thursday because he was unresponsive after his first dose of chemo. I went to visit that afternoon and had a chance to pray for him and Cindy. Even though his body died the next day, and I don't understand why my prayer appeared was ineffective, I am still thankful that I took the opportunity to try. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, thank you for Randy and his friendship. Please comfort Cindy and all of us who miss him here on this side. I love you. </div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-5133070714819321212023-02-25T07:26:00.001-07:002023-02-25T07:26:27.295-07:00A life of sacrificial service<div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">MATTHEW 16</div><div dir="auto"><br></div>Jesus told the disciples that he was going to be killed, but Peter pulled Jesus aside and rebuked him.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-style:italic;font-family:"system-ui",-apple-system,"segoe ui",roboto,ubuntu,cantarell,"noto sans",sans-serif,arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="font-size:1.2rem;line-height:normal;vertical-align:text-top;font-weight:700">23</span> But [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."</span><span style="font-family:"system-ui",-apple-system,"segoe ui",roboto,ubuntu,cantarell,"noto sans",sans-serif,arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><i> </i>(ESV)</span><br><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">The worldly perspective prioritizes self-benefit (e.g., comfort, profit, safety), but the Father's perspective loves and serves others sacrificially.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><i><span style="font-family:"system-ui",-apple-system,"segoe ui",roboto,ubuntu,cantarell,"noto sans",sans-serif,arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="font-size:1.2rem;line-height:normal;vertical-align:text-top;font-weight:700">24 </span>Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.</span><span style="font-family:"system-ui",-apple-system,"segoe ui",roboto,ubuntu,cantarell,"noto sans",sans-serif,arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> </span><span style="font-family:"system-ui",-apple-system,"segoe ui",roboto,ubuntu,cantarell,"noto sans",sans-serif,arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="font-size:1.2rem;line-height:normal;vertical-align:text-top;font-weight:700">25 </span>For whoever would save his life</span><span style="font-family:"system-ui",-apple-system,"segoe ui",roboto,ubuntu,cantarell,"noto sans",sans-serif,arial;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="font-size:10px"> </span><span style="font-size:16px">will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.</span></span><span style="font-family:"system-ui",-apple-system,"segoe ui",roboto,ubuntu,cantarell,"noto sans",sans-serif,arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> </span></i><span style="font-family:"system-ui",-apple-system,"segoe ui",roboto,ubuntu,cantarell,"noto sans",sans-serif,arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><i><span style="font-size:1.2rem;line-height:normal;vertical-align:text-top;font-weight:700">26 </span>For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?</i> (ESV)</span></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, I want to be like you. Thank you for demonstrating your sacrificial love through sending your Son for us. Jesus, thank you for your humility and selfless sacrifice. Holy Spirit, I want to live like Jesus. I love you.</div></div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-6410162634660532152023-02-21T10:47:00.000-07:002023-02-21T10:50:03.154-07:00I want time to be still and reflect<div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">On the drive to the airport this morning, I remembered when I was a kid, riding home from the farm late one night after harvesting cotton, and the passenger side window of the pickup wouldn't role up. Dad turned on the heater full blast. It was a mixture of feelings, the cold wind on my face and the warm air from the floorboard. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">So, as I was driving this morning, I rolled down the windows and cranked up the heater. I am thankful for my dad and times we had together.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I want to make more time to be still and focus on the Father and his love for me. I want a regular rhythm of reflection in my life. (My significantly lower frequency of blog posting is an artifact of limited time made for reflection.)</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, thank you for your patience with me. I want the peace and joy that come from spending unstructured time with you. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-16259495654829861252023-01-02T06:42:00.000-07:002023-01-02T06:45:43.318-07:00Time to watch the sun rise<div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">I woke up early his morning. Made a cup of coffee. When I saw the first gleam of dawn, I pulled up a chair in the living room at my parents front door which faces east and watched the dawn and sunrise. It was spectacular! So many phases. Father is such an amazing artist!</div><div dir="auto"><br></div>Matthew 5:44-45 NIV<div dir="auto"><i>But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.</i><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father is good. Goodness comes from Him. I want to be like Him.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, deliver me from religion. I've been straight-jacketed for so long. It is for freedom that Christ has set me free. I want to be like a sunrise. I love you.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Proverbs 4:18 NIV</div><div dir="auto"><i>The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.</i></div><div dir="auto"><br></div></div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-52620248234782221682023-01-01T14:10:00.001-07:002023-01-01T14:10:12.473-07:00Word of the year: goodness<div dir="auto">My word for 2023 year is: GOODNESS.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Galatians 5:22-25 NIV<br></div><div dir="auto"><i>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.</i></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I am continuing my meditation on the fruit of the Spirit. I don't think I did that well with "kindness" this past year, but I think it is important for me to recognize that sanctification is incremental and multi dimensional.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, I praise you because you are good and the origin of all goodness. Thank you for making me a new creation of the same goodness as your self. May your goodness be revealed in greater measure through me. I love you.</div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832909446127447233.post-61096458540753454272022-10-14T04:50:00.000-06:002022-10-16T07:46:55.919-06:00Humility<div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">I suppose that humility is not listed in the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5 because it is part of our freewill; we can choose to be humble. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">James explains that humility is key to intimacy with God, and we see this modeled throughout the Scriptures (e.g., Moses, David, Jesus), as well as repeated in Proverbs.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">James 4:6, 10 NIV<br></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><i>But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." </i></div><div dir="auto"><i>...</i></div><div dir="auto"><i>Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.</i></div></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">John the Baptizer considered himself unworthy to perform even the basic service of a slave, washing Jesus's feet.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">John 1:27 NIV<br></div><i>He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."</i><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><br><div dir="auto">James reminds us that our knowledge is so limited compared to the Father's omniscience, and our time in this life is so brief compared to eternity.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">James 4:14 NIV</div><div dir="auto"><i>Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.</i></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Father, I want to be humble. Holy Spirit, please help me choose to be humble. I want my heart to be fertile 100-fold soil. Please grow your life deeper in me. Lord Jesus, I want to honor your reign. I love you.</div></div></div></div> shanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03262554412833832915noreply@blogger.com0