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So many Martial Arts classes practice Eastern Religion Meditation. Since we are a Christian Karate Class we do not do that, instead we meditate on God's Word, so these are the passages with my thoughts on them for this week.

 

Tags: God Bible Jesus Meditation

So many Martial Arts classes practice Eastern Religion Meditation. Since we are a Christian Karate Class we do not do that, instead we meditate on God's Word, so these are the passages with my thoughts on them for this week.  

As most of you know our class does not charge but we take freewill donations. Those donations go to the youth missions fund at the church. This year we are helping to sent a group of high school students to Zambia (that is in Africa). They are leaving this Saturday. One of those students is Garrett. He is an 8th Gup in our karate class. We are excited to send him off this week and will be spending some time praying for him on Thursday during class.
That trip and Garrett inspired this weeks reading.
The first passage is the parable of the Sheep and Goats. This is Jesus explaining the way He feels about the poor and needy and how His followers should feel. I think Jesus had such a love for the poor because for 1. that is how He lived and can understand how it is to be homeless and needy. He lived that way because it was the only way to get His message across. And 2. the needy have no where else to go but to Him. The rich have themselves and their money to rely on. Some realize that money is temporary but some don't. God does not abandon the rich but He just has a heart for the poor. The second passage is the story of Jonah. God called him to be a missionary but he tried to run and hide from God. He finally realized that he needed to do what God says and his heart changed also. Now he had that heart for others to know God. (I only have some of the story here but if you want more let me know and I will get it for you.) The reason why I wanted to do these passages is because these kids that are going on this trip have the heart of the sheep and the heart of Jonah. They have such a love for people and feel God calling them to get off there butts and do something. They are going to spend almost a week and a half in Africa living the way these people do and doing everything they can to help them physically and hopefully spiritually. I pray that they become the hands and feet of God and He will use them and lives will change forever.      

Tuesday 6/24/2008 

Matthew 25:31-46 3
1"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.  34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'  37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'  40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'  41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'  44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'  45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'  46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." 

Thursday 6/26/2008 

Jonah 1:1-3 
1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."  3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. 

Jonah 3:1-10 
1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."  3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." 5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.  6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:
      "By the decree of the king and his nobles:
       Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."  10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. 

Tags: God Bible Jesus Meditation

So many Martial Arts classes practice Eastern Religion Meditation. Since we are a Christian Karate Class we do not do that, instead we meditate on God's Word, so these are the passages with my thoughts on them for this week.

  Pressing on toward the goal to win the prize; I believe the prize he is referring to is Heaven. Yes the prize in won at the point of salvation and from there you could just stop running the race and let Christ carry you the rest of the way but will you want Him to. I truly believe that if you are truly saved you will want to press on. You will press on by doing the things God asks you to do in the Bible, telling others about God and His salvation, and developing a close relationship with God. Fighting the good fight for God. That is how you press on toward the mark to win the prize. Learn, change, grow and share what you have learned. If you become stagnant you got to pick yourself up and get going. It is just like if you sit for too long the muscles and joints get tight, It is hard to get back up.   Tuesday 6/3/2008 Philippians 3:12b-2112b I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.  Thursday 6/5/2008 John 14:1-6, 27-28 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going." 5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 28"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

Tags: God Bible Jesus Meditation

So many Martial Arts classes practice Eastern Religion Meditation. Since we are a Christian Karate Class we do not do that, instead we meditate on God's Word, so these are the passages with my thoughts on them for this week.

  I know we have done this passage before but I really love it. I see it as God letting us know that a true follower of Him does these things and this is what the benefits are. Poor in spirit; maybe humble, giving it all to God and not boasting. Mourn; to be honest I am not sure why this one is here, maybe it is if you have a heart that breaks for others and can be there in the time of need for others, being able to mourn with others. Meek; humble, patient, gentle. Hunger and thirst for righteousness; I like that because it does not say that YOU NEED TO BE RIGHTEOUS, have the desire to be righteous, to be like Christ. Merciful; if you are kind to other no matter what happened or what they did to you, God will show the same mercy. Peacemakers; always looking to bring peace and looking for ways to bring joy and comfort to people. Persecuted because of righteousness, being persecuted because for Christ; if you follow God you will be persecuted, people will say bad things about you. That is ok, like it says rejoice and be glad because that means you are doing something right. If you strive to be and do the things that are written in this passage you will be persecuted but people will see Christ in you. Them seeing Christ in you is more important then the persecution. Just take it, Jesus endured much more then we ever will!!!!! 

Tuesday 5/27/2008 

Matthew 5:3-12 3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 4Blessed are those who mourn,
      for they will be comforted.
 5Blessed are the meek,
      for they will inherit the earth.
 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
      for they will be filled.
 7Blessed are the merciful,
      for they will be shown mercy.
 8Blessed are the pure in heart,
      for they will see God.
 9Blessed are the peacemakers,
      for they will be called sons of God.
 10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.


  Jesus just loved kids. He loved their innocence, their unconditional love, their trusting heart. Us as adults (and for you teens out there) we don’t trust God, (we say we do but we all fail in this way sometimes) we are selfish, our love is conditional. That is why Jesus had such love for kids and used them as an example of what we should be like. I think trust is the big one though. If you are a good parent your kids trust everything you say. They look up to you and want to be like you. That is the kind of love God deserves from us. If God says something we need to just trust and not worry if it doesn’t fit into our plans. God’s plans need to be our plans. Just trust, He knows best!! 

 Thursday 5/29/2008 

Matthew 18:1-9 
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Tags: God Bible Jesus Meditation

So many Martial Arts classes practice Eastern Religion Meditation. Since we are a Christian Karate Class we do not do that, instead we meditate on God's Word, so these are the passages with my thoughts on them for this week.

Over the next few months we are going to be looking at passages on different subjects like, God's love, Loving others, Sin, Forgiveness / Redemption, things like that. We are now on sin and how it affects us and why it is the road to destruction. A lot of these could work for a few of the subjects but we will just go with it.   Tuesday 5/20/2008

Proverbs 14:18-26 18 The simple inherit folly,
       but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.  19 Evil men will bow down in the presence of the good,
       and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.  20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
       but the rich have many friends.  21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
       but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.  22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?
       But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.  23 All hard work brings a profit,
       but mere talk leads only to poverty. 24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
       but the folly of fools yields folly.  25 A truthful witness saves lives,
       but a false witness is deceitful.  26 He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
       and for his children it will be a refuge.  Thursday 2/22/2008 Proverbs 14:27-35 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
       turning a man from the snares of death.  28 A large population is a king's glory,
       but without subjects a prince is ruined.  29 A patient man has great understanding,
       but a quick-tempered man displays folly.  30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
       but envy rots the bones.  31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
       but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.  32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
       but even in death the righteous have a refuge.  33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning
       and even among fools she lets herself be known.  34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
       but sin is a disgrace to any people.  35 A king delights in a wise servant,
       but a shameful servant incurs his wrath.

Tags: God Bible Jesus Meditation

So many Martial Arts classes practice Eastern Religion Meditation. Since we are a Christian Karate Class we do not do that, instead we meditate on God's Word, so these are the passages with my thoughts on them for this week.

Over the next few months we are going to be looking at passages on different subjects like, God's love, Loving others, Sin, Forgiveness / Redemption, things like that. We are now on sin and how it affects us and why it is the road to destruction. A lot of these could work for a few of the subjects but we will just go with it.

 

 

I know I keep saying the same kind of things but, I am really diggin the Proverbs. There is not a person out there that can read these and say that a part of them do not relate to them. It really makes them personal by talking about real life situations and consequences to making the decision to please yourself with sin or to deny yourself and to look to Christ for real satisfaction instead of the temporary. It almost seems as if it is only a temporary solution or pleasure, it probably is the wrong decision. Read this real close and see which ones are written for you and you will see both sides, what the bad decision will do and the good.      

 

Tuesday 5/13/2008

Proverbs 16:17-29
 17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
       he who guards his way guards his life.
 18 Pride goes before destruction,
       a haughty spirit before a fall.
 19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
       than to share plunder with the proud.
 20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
       and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
 21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
       and pleasant words promote instruction. [a]
 22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
       but folly brings punishment to fools.
 23 A wise man's heart guides his mouth,
       and his lips promote instruction. [b]
 24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
       sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
 25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
       but in the end it leads to death.
 26 The laborer's appetite works for him;
       his hunger drives him on.
 27 A scoundrel plots evil,
       and his speech is like a scorching fire.
 28 A perverse man stirs up dissension,
       and a gossip separates close friends.
 29 A violent man entices his neighbor
       and leads him down a path that is not good.

 

Thursday 5/15/2008 

Proverbs 14:5-17
 5 A truthful witness does not deceive,
       but a false witness pours out lies.
 6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
       but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
 7 Stay away from a foolish man,
       for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
       but the folly of fools is deception.
 9 Fools mock at making amends for sin,
       but goodwill is found among the upright.
 10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
       and no one else can share its joy.
 11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
       but the tent of the upright will flourish.
 12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
       but in the end it leads to death.
 13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
       and joy may end in grief.
 14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
       and the good man rewarded for his.
 15 A simple man believes anything,
       but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.
 16 A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil,
       but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
 17 A quick-tempered man does foolish things,
       and a crafty man is hated.

Tags: God Jesus Bible Meditation

So many Martial Arts classes practice Eastern Religion Meditation. Since we are a Christian Karate Class we do not do that, instead we meditate on God's Word, so these are the passages with my thoughts on them for this week.

Over the next few months we are going to be looking at passages on different subjects like, God's love, Loving others, Sin, Forgiveness / Redemption, things like that. We are now on sin and how it affects us and why it is the road to distruction. A lot of these could work for a few of the subjects but we will just go with it.   I read this passage a few times and didn't come up with much to share with you this week. Proverbs is great but it does bounce around a bit but it is so practical. I tell you what, every time I read it something else pops out to me because it covers so many different areas. you should come back to this passage a few times this week and see what God revealed to you. I can't remember the verse but the Bible says that God's word it alive and active. That is so true. Allow it to be alive to you, let Him speak to you. Don't neglect to speak back to Him through prayer either. Tuesday 4/30/2008 Proverbs 11:27-31 27 He who seeks good finds goodwill,
       but evil comes to him who searches for it.  28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
       but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.  29 He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind,
       and the fool will be servant to the wise.  30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
       and he who wins souls is wise.  31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
       how much more the ungodly and the sinner! Proverbs 5:21-23 21 For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD,
       and he examines all his paths.  22 The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him;
       the cords of his sin hold him fast.  23 He will die for lack of discipline,
       led astray by his own great folly. Thursday 5/01/2008  Proverbs 10:16-24 16 The wages of the righteous bring them life,
       but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.  17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life,
       but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.  18 He who conceals his hatred has lying lips,
       and whoever spreads slander is a fool.  19 When words are many, sin is not absent,
       but he who holds his tongue is wise.  20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
       but the heart of the wicked is of little value.  21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
       but fools die for lack of judgment.  22 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth,
       and he adds no trouble to it.  23 A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct,
       but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.  24 What the wicked dreads will overtake him;
       what the righteous desire will be granted.  

Tags: God Bible Jesus Meditation

So many Martial Arts classes practice Eastern Religion Meditation. Since we are a Christian Karate Class we do not do that, instead we meditate on God's Word, so these are the passages with my thoughts on them for this week.

Over the next few months we are going to be looking at passages on different subjects like, God's love, Loving others, Sin, Forgiveness / Redemption, things like that. We are now on sin and how it affects us and why it is the road to distruction. A lot of these could work for a few of the subjects but we will just go with it.

 

 

What I love about King David is that He was a real guy with real problems and sins that we deal with every day. He even dealt with some sin that most of us never will. Like adultery and even worse, murder. Not directly but he did send Bathsheba’s husband to the front lines in battle to be killed. But he was still a follower of God and always would seek Him. God called him a, “A Man After My Own Heart”. See, God does not pick the perfect to do His work. Look at the Disciples, those guys were a piece of work I tell you what. But Jesus loved them and called them friends and brothers. Peter denied Jesus three times the night He was arrested and Jesus said that he was the rock on which He would build His church. Do not wait to seek God till your conscience is clear because it will never be. Stop where you are now and give your life to God and He will clear your conscience by forgiving with out looking back. This Psalm I believe was written right after David’s adultery with Bathsheba. You can see the shame and hurt in his heart for what he did but you can see the confidence in the forgiveness. He also desires change. He wants God to change his sinful heart. This Psalm is a good example of a prayer of forgiveness. There has been times in my life where I know I have sinned and am still in that sin and have a heard time getting away from it. This would be a great prayer to pray. There is nothing wrong with praying scripture; God loves it by the way.

 
Tuesday 4/22/2008

Psalm 51:1-9
 1 Have mercy on me, O God,
       according to your unfailing love;
       according to your great compassion
       blot out my transgressions.
 2 Wash away all my iniquity
       and cleanse me from my sin.
 3 For I know my transgressions,
       and my sin is always before me.
 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
       and done what is evil in your sight,
       so that you are proved right when you speak
       and justified when you judge.
 5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
       sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
       you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
       wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
 8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
       let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
 9 Hide your face from my sins
       and blot out all my iniquity.

 
Thursday 4/24/2008

Psalm 51:10-17
 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
       and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
 11 Do not cast me from your presence
       or take your Holy Spirit from me.
 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
       and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
       and sinners will turn back to you.
 14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
       the God who saves me,
       and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
 15 O Lord, open my lips,
       and my mouth will declare your praise.
 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
       you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
       a broken and contrite heart,
       O God, you will not despise.

Tags: God Jesus Bible Meditation

So many Martial Arts classes practice Eastern Religion Meditation. Since we are a Christian Karate Class we do not do that, instead we meditate on God’s Word, so these are the passages with my thoughts on them for this week.

 
1 Blessed is he
       whose transgressions are forgiven,
       whose sins are covered. 
 2 Blessed is the man
       whose sin the LORD does not count against him
       and in whose spirit is no deceit.  
3 When I kept silent,
       my bones wasted away
       through my groaning all day long.  
4 For day and night
       your hand was heavy upon me;
       my strength was sapped
       as in the heat of summer.
       Selah .
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
       and did not cover up my iniquity.
       I said, "I will confess
       my transgressions to the LORD "—
       and you forgave
       the guilt of my sin.
       Selah  
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
       while you may be found;
       surely when the mighty waters rise,
       they will not reach him.  
7 You are my hiding place;
       you will protect me from trouble
       and surround me with songs of deliverance.
       Selah  8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
       I will counsel you and watch over you.  
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
       which have no understanding
       but must be controlled by bit and bridle
       or they will not come to you.  10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
       but the LORD's unfailing love
       surrounds the man who trusts in him.  
11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
       sing, all you who are upright in heart! 

 

Thursday 4/16/2008

 Psalm 25:1-15 
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;  
2 in you I trust, O my God.
       Do not let me be put to shame,
       nor let my enemies triumph over me.  
3 No one whose hope is in you
       will ever be put to shame,
       but they will be put to shame
       who are treacherous without excuse.  
4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
       teach me your paths;  
5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
       for you are God my Savior,
       and my hope is in you all day long. 
 6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
       for they are from of old. 
 7 Remember not the sins of my youth
       and my rebellious ways;
       according to your love remember me,
       for you are good, O LORD.  
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
       therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.  
9 He guides the humble in what is right
       and teaches them his way.  
10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
       for those who keep the demands of his covenant.  
11 For the sake of your name, O LORD,
       forgive my iniquity, though it is great.  
12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ?
       He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.  
13 He will spend his days in prosperity,
       and his descendants will inherit the land.  
14 The LORD confides in those who fear him;
       he makes his covenant known to them.  
15 My eyes are ever on the LORD,
       for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Tags: God Bible Jesus Meditation

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