Making more time....

FAITH:

1 Timothy 4:1-16

False teachers have always blemished the church. The false teachers in the Ephesian church did not believe Jesus was really human. They contradicted Scripture while appearing to be self disciplined and morally righteous. 

Christian leaders must be disciplined. They must guard their motives, be faithful to God and his Word and live commendable lives. A false teacher can easily be detected if the teacher's message differs from the Bible's truth.

For you to rest--that is, to live in total acceptance of God's way--demands quiet......

To rest in God permanently means to hand over each activity, each situation of your life, to Him and to learn the habit of trusting Him to work for you.

We don't naturally rest. Naturally we are stewers, tinkerers, and fussers....

Have you too much to do?  Are you pushed, rushed, harried?

Said George Fox long ago, "Come out of the bustlings you that are bustling."

To guard your inner life, you must guard your outer life.  How's your pace? Are you too busy?....

Does your pace allow you to keep in touch with yourself--with your inner needs and feelings and longings? Does it allow you time to think, plan, make changes? Does it allow you time to observe carefully the dear ones around you and care for their needs--physical and emotional? Do you have time to really live?....

Asian theologian Kosuke Koyama says that in human affairs God moves at something like three miles and hour, the pace at which a person walks, not runs! Are you synchronized to your world, maybe even to your Christian world, but out of sync with God?....

You will change when your inner life changes.  But I just said your inner life is affected by your outer life! Then is the whole thing a vicious circle that can't be stopped?

No. The whole thing begins with a decision. Your heart is your headquarters. Even as you read this, make the decision, by a conscious act of your will, that you will learn to rest in God both in your inner life and your outer life. Once the decision is made--and you implement it--gradually, gradually over the weeks or years, the changes will come.  Your heart will start listening to a different pulse deep within you, and with joy you'll begin to match your steps to that lovely, restful beat.By Anne Ortlund

Applying it: Are you satisfied with God's plans for you? Are you discontent because you are too young or too old? Impatient because you are not advancing as high as you would like? Frustrated with your restrictions? Be content where God has placed you. Love your life as an example to others. Speak boldly of what Christ has done for you and what he can do for others.

Exploring it: Discipline--Proverbs 3:11-12; 12:1; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19

FRIENDS:

 "In a world so shattered and broken by violence...," Koyama asked, "how can we rejoice in hope?"

We have hope, he continued, because we believe in a "compassionate God", who runs out from the centre to meet those on the periphery of life. Our task is to make God's love visible to the world by loving our neighbours. "The rejoicing of a private and exclusive community fails to invite all to hope," Koyama declared. We must be willing to give and receive from strangers as well as from our brothers and sisters, because "for God no one is a stranger".

Father, we pray that we will truly love our neighbors and show God's love to them......

FOOD:

OVEN STEW
21/2-3 pounds stew beef, cut into small cubes
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained (or a 29-ounce can whole tomatoes, undrained, coarsely chopped)
1 box frozen peas
6-8 slender carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch lengths
3 small yellow onions, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
2 slices bread, crusts removed, cubed
3 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup hearty red wine
1 tablespoon salt and pepper to taste
Thyme, marjoram and rosemary to taste, fresh or dried (can use one,
none or all three, but really best with at least the thyme)
In large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing well. Place
mixture in a large pot and cover tightly. Bake at 250 degrees for 5
hours or at 300 degrees for 4 hours.

Uncover only once near the end of the cooking time and stir the stew
and check if additional cooking time is desired.

Excellent served over garlic mashed potatoes.

FUN:

This is the funniest video. The guy is clean and talented.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg