Sep 8
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tomelwood added a text contribution Playing both ends against the middleI thought this verse was an excellent example of "playing both ends against the middle," as defined at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/play%20both%20ends%20against%20the%20middle (- see definition 77 there.) It's also an example of God's grace in answering a prayer in an overwhelming way. In this chapter, Jehoshaphat made a 180 degree switch from saying 'We don't know what to do" to "Let's march forward and trust God." And God not onl… Read more »
Feb 24
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tomelwood added a link contribution God manages our messes - linkPeople often say 'everything happens for a reason.' But I think they're really thinking of, and misquoting, this verse. God knows everything that will happen, and he *can* intervene in any situation to make a good outcome. And it won't always be the outcome we wanted. He can intervene, but that doesn't mean he always does. Bad things do happen to good people, because we live in a fallen world. I like how Joe Stowell put it: 'God manages our messes to good and glorio… Read more »
Sep 10
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tomelwood added a text contribution discipline is good" It’s easy to wander in mind and heart. I do better with discipline." - Mark McCampbell Read more »
May 19
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tomelwood added a text contribution Your Word is better than richesPs 119:14: 'I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.' I like the translation of this in 'The Message' which says 'I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches.' It makes this verse have a much more convicting, personal message. And it reminds me of Luke 12:18 - if you devote your life to storing up riches, how foolish you'll feel when God says 'your life will be demanded from you.�… Read more »
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tomelwood added a text contribution Praise goes both ways!I can remember the first time I read this verse. I was stunned that God has praise for us. I always thought of praise going up to God, yet here he says God has praise for us. We are so lucky to have Jesus as a friend, but sometimes we are complacent and forget how incredibly powerful and magnificent and awe-inspiring God is. yet this same omnipotent being recognizes that sometimes we get it right, we do what He wants, we test and approve His will and do something for Him, and he has praise f… Read more »
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tomelwood added a text contribution His power is *through us*God can do anything - he created it all. Yet this verse singles out you and me as the means by which he does immeasurably more than we can imagine. Incredibly, he can do anything, and yet he leaves important work (like bringing people to himself) to us. It's all of His power, and it resides in us. His love and generosity allow his amazing power to reside in us, if we'll let Him use it. It reminds me of John 5:44 - God has praise for us. Just us, his recalcitrant children, his wa… Read more »
Apr 9
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tomelwood added a text contribution Integrity is...Here's a tough and honest definition of integrity - 'commend ourselves to every man's conscience.' It doesn't say 'to their inspection' or 'their questions' - we have to behave in a way that's beyond reproach to the satisfaction of other people's conscience even when they're not looking. That little word uttered under the breath or that thing you do when no one could possibly see it... Dies your behavior live up to the standard of othe… Read more »
Mar 13
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A credenza is a peice of furniture in a dining room also called a buffet or sideboard. The word credenza comes from the [medieval] practice of serving food to a servant to ensure that it isn't poisoned! See www.thefreedictionary.com/credenza Eating poison seems like you're fleecing God, and seems to be a risky way to demonstrate God's power. I'm not going to go out and eat poison tomorrow, but in the right setting, where God could use that power to survive poison to help… Read more »