S: "Obviously I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant." Galatians 1:10 NLT
O: Following Christ does not mean that our actions will be pleasing to others. In fact, our actions (speaking the truth in love) will most likely garner hard feelings at the very least. However, God has not called us to be people pleasers. God wants us to please Him and not worry about what ANYBODY else thinks.
A: I need to have the courage to stand up for Jesus regardless of the circumstance or possible earthly consequences. It's very likely that I will never have to face the persecutions of Paul, Peter, Stephen and Jesus. How then can I justify not speaking out when the worst I have to face is someone disagreeing with what I am saying?
P: Father, give me the courage to go boldly for out for you. Open my eyes to the opportunities that I have to be your hands and your feet each day and, if necessary, give me a push towards that opportunity so that Your kingdom will grow and members will be added to Your family.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Help my unbelief
Scripture - "But for all of this, you did not trust the Lord your God." Deut. 1:32 NAS
Observation - Even after all that God had done for the Israelites, (removing them from bondage in Egypt, parting the Red Sea, giving them manna from heaven to eat, leading them by pillars of clouds and fire) they still did not trust Him to give them the land He had promised. How often do I fail to trust that God will continue to care for me in spite of all He has already done? If after everything that God accomplished for the Israelites, they still doubted is there any hope for the rest of us?
Application - I need to ask God to be patient with my doubts. "Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, 'I do believe; help my unbelief.'" Mark 9:24 I am human and will suffer though bouts of doubt and unbelief. Only God through His Holy Spirit can help me through these moments. God is faithful. Period.
Prayer - Father, as the boy's father said to Jesus, "I do believe, help my unbelief". I want to trust in you completely. Help me to let go of myself and grasp onto you with all I am.
Observation - Even after all that God had done for the Israelites, (removing them from bondage in Egypt, parting the Red Sea, giving them manna from heaven to eat, leading them by pillars of clouds and fire) they still did not trust Him to give them the land He had promised. How often do I fail to trust that God will continue to care for me in spite of all He has already done? If after everything that God accomplished for the Israelites, they still doubted is there any hope for the rest of us?
Application - I need to ask God to be patient with my doubts. "Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, 'I do believe; help my unbelief.'" Mark 9:24 I am human and will suffer though bouts of doubt and unbelief. Only God through His Holy Spirit can help me through these moments. God is faithful. Period.
Prayer - Father, as the boy's father said to Jesus, "I do believe, help my unbelief". I want to trust in you completely. Help me to let go of myself and grasp onto you with all I am.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Love God with everything
Scripture: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:30 NIV
Observation: We are called to love God completely without holding anything back. He doesn't want our half-hearted efforts. He wants it all.
Application: I need to be sure that I am striving each day to more completely love God. I need to ensure that my mind is focused on Him, my strength is pushing for Him, my soul is longing for Him and my heart is earnestly seeking to love Him.
Prayer: Father, help me to give you my all everyday. Show me where I am holding back and give me wisdom on when and where I need to be for You.
Observation: We are called to love God completely without holding anything back. He doesn't want our half-hearted efforts. He wants it all.
Application: I need to be sure that I am striving each day to more completely love God. I need to ensure that my mind is focused on Him, my strength is pushing for Him, my soul is longing for Him and my heart is earnestly seeking to love Him.
Prayer: Father, help me to give you my all everyday. Show me where I am holding back and give me wisdom on when and where I need to be for You.
New use for Blog
I'm going to try something here. During my scripture reading, I often have particular verses stick in my mind and I try and follow the SOAP method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) described by Cordeiro in "The Divine Mentor". I've felt lead for some time to put these down on the internet so that others could either be inspired to write their own or could offer their own thoughts on my interpretations of the passages. So, today I'm going to start putting them out here and see where God leads us.
God bless you all.
God bless you all.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Horrible, horrible blogger
Yes...that's me. I am probably the world's worst blogger. I also think that I've only had two people ever visit my blog and I'm pretty sure that they will never come back! ;)
I am now safe and sound back home and I'm happy as a clam...not sure what that means. How do we know that clams are happy? And if they are, I bet when someone opens their shell to check, they aren't happy anymore! Strange saying...
Anyway, I just suddenly felt like throwing some words out here in cyber land. The family is good. We're going on a big family cruise in a little over three weeks. Julie earned the cruise through her jewelry company (Just Jewelry) again so we decided that it would be a great family vacation to take with me just getting back from Afghanistan. Her mom also earned the cruise and bought her dad on as well. Since we were all going, Julie's sister and her family decided to come along as well so it'll be a big family good time for all of us. We're heading to the Western Caribbean on Carnival. It should be a blast. I may even post some pictures when I get back...but don't count on it!! As you well now, if you look at the dates between my posts, it may be 2010 before another paragraph appears.
Well, that's all for now...see you soon...maybe.
I am now safe and sound back home and I'm happy as a clam...not sure what that means. How do we know that clams are happy? And if they are, I bet when someone opens their shell to check, they aren't happy anymore! Strange saying...
Anyway, I just suddenly felt like throwing some words out here in cyber land. The family is good. We're going on a big family cruise in a little over three weeks. Julie earned the cruise through her jewelry company (Just Jewelry) again so we decided that it would be a great family vacation to take with me just getting back from Afghanistan. Her mom also earned the cruise and bought her dad on as well. Since we were all going, Julie's sister and her family decided to come along as well so it'll be a big family good time for all of us. We're heading to the Western Caribbean on Carnival. It should be a blast. I may even post some pictures when I get back...but don't count on it!! As you well now, if you look at the dates between my posts, it may be 2010 before another paragraph appears.
Well, that's all for now...see you soon...maybe.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Hailey is a Green Belt
I just realized that I had posted that Hailey was going to take the Green Belt test for Karate and never updated the blog on her results. An email that I received from Skylar said it best so I'm going to steal her words and stick them right in here.
"Hailey is a green belt now--you should have seen her--she really passed the test! I am so excited!"
That is all...Keeping it real in the AFG
"Hailey is a green belt now--you should have seen her--she really passed the test! I am so excited!"
That is all...Keeping it real in the AFG
Strange Things are afoot at the Circle K
Okay, so maybe not strange but very cool.
First, the biggest news is that our new house is ready and we will be closing on it on the 9th. Of course, Julie is handling this all on her own since I'm deployed so the excitement of the purchase of our first house is tempered somewhat, but it's still way cool. We've been married just under 11 years, but this is the first time we've a. Felt in a decent place financially to purchase a house and b. Liked someplace enough to possibly settle there after I retire from the AF in four years. I'll post a picture when I get a chance, but if you want to have a looksie ahead of time you can go to http://www.pulte.com/ and search for the Isadora model in the Loma Colorado section of Rio Rancho, NM.
The second big news is that Skylar is now swallowing her pills whole. For those of you who don't know, Skylar has both autism and epilepsy. Due to this, she has to take a boat-load of pills and medicines each day. Up until now, any pills that she's had to take had to either be crushed or the capsule had to be opened and the medicine poured out onto a spoonful (or two or three) of applesauce for her to take each morning and evening. Needless to say our household is no longer fond of applesauce as a snack! You eat it (or watch someone eat it) twice a day for five years and then see how you like it! ;) However, yesterday Skylar swallowed her first pills whole and the Coryell household rejoiced!
Anyway, I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks so I wanted to throw something out there. What better than a couple of the many blessings that God has heaped on my life. Not too much new in Afghanistan. I can't say I'm liking it any better but I also can't say I'm liking it any worse so there's something to be said about that. Only 81 days until my estimated return home and yes I am counting!
Have a great day!
First, the biggest news is that our new house is ready and we will be closing on it on the 9th. Of course, Julie is handling this all on her own since I'm deployed so the excitement of the purchase of our first house is tempered somewhat, but it's still way cool. We've been married just under 11 years, but this is the first time we've a. Felt in a decent place financially to purchase a house and b. Liked someplace enough to possibly settle there after I retire from the AF in four years. I'll post a picture when I get a chance, but if you want to have a looksie ahead of time you can go to http://www.pulte.com/ and search for the Isadora model in the Loma Colorado section of Rio Rancho, NM.
The second big news is that Skylar is now swallowing her pills whole. For those of you who don't know, Skylar has both autism and epilepsy. Due to this, she has to take a boat-load of pills and medicines each day. Up until now, any pills that she's had to take had to either be crushed or the capsule had to be opened and the medicine poured out onto a spoonful (or two or three) of applesauce for her to take each morning and evening. Needless to say our household is no longer fond of applesauce as a snack! You eat it (or watch someone eat it) twice a day for five years and then see how you like it! ;) However, yesterday Skylar swallowed her first pills whole and the Coryell household rejoiced!
Anyway, I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks so I wanted to throw something out there. What better than a couple of the many blessings that God has heaped on my life. Not too much new in Afghanistan. I can't say I'm liking it any better but I also can't say I'm liking it any worse so there's something to be said about that. Only 81 days until my estimated return home and yes I am counting!
Have a great day!
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