As described in Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas, a “pathway” represents the way(s) that people connect with God. Unfortunately, many Christians go throughout their lives only knowing one or two ways to connect with God. For example, someone may have been told by a Bible study leader that the way to connect with God is with a 30 minute “quiet time” involving Bible reading, journaling, and intercessory prayer. Another person may have grown up in a “high” church, where tradition and ritual are emphasized. Gary Thomas describes nine different ways that are all valid ways that people more naturally encounter God, for the purpose of freeing people to try other ways, discover what is most comfortable to them, and to help prevent judgmental or covetous attitudes towards how other people spend time with God.
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In Matthew 22:37 Jesus said the first and greatest commandment was to love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind. Jesus was saying that our first order of business is a passionate pursuit of God. During the Sundays of August we are going to examine the critical elements of that pursuit and hopefully come away with a deeper, more focused and renewed relationship with God the Father and a closer resemblance to Jesus, His Son.
I hope you can join me either in person at River Oaks or on-line at the River Oaks web site!
Tim
Proverbs 31:10 says, “Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?” My answer is, “I can, and I did.” 32 years ago today Gloria and I got married. I can’t believe it has been that long and that good! Happy anniversary, sweetie. I’ll pick you up at 4:00 for an evening at St. Joe. How does that sound?
Love, Tim
Jun7
This morning, for whatever reason, I decided to read something from the Psalms. I guess I was in a “Psalm-reading-mood”. Anyway I opened my bible to the Psalms and began reading in chapter 16. I paused on the final verse, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” How fitting a verse for a funeral message I will be giving this afternoon! I will definitely incorporate it into my message. What a comfort to know that after we leave this life we will experience the joy of God’s presence and the pleasures of living in heaven forever!
I kept reading and when I came to 20:4-5 I thought of you. David wrote, “May he grant you your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.” I don’t see these words so much as a promise as much as a hopeful blessing. I trust you will see the good hand of God in your life today.
Tim
Jun3
The last 17 books of the Old Testament are known as The Prophetical Books. The first five are The Major Prophets and the last twelve are The Minor Prophets. The distinction is one of size not importance. Here is the breakdown:
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“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.” – Albert Einstein.
When I think of someone who had a ‘holy curiosity’, I think of King Solomon. In 1 Kings 4:32-33, “He spoke three thousand provers and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.”
I wonder if too many of us have stopped asking questions and stopped being inquisitive. Perhaps its time to take up a new hobby, read a book about the natural sciences, dust off the telescope, or just take a walk in nature and do some personal observations. Curiosity isn’t just for small children, its of all of God’s children!
Tim
May21
That title is the heading in the Life Application Bible at the top of 2 Samuel 11. It is the story of David’s affair with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, in an attempt to cover his tracks. This chapter is what I read this morning in my devotional time. I am going to list the words, comments and questions that I wrote in the margin of my Bible around 2 Samuel 11. Men, especially, take note:
43 +/- years old (mid-life)
He had conquered his world and was secure at the top
Coasting
Bored with nothing to do
Alone because his men were all away fighting a battle
In verse 2, “he noticed” Bathsheba bathing – this was the moment of decision.
What had happened up to this point in David’s life that allowed his lust to turn into adultery so quickly? There didn’t seem to be any struggle to fight the urge to have sex with a woman he was not married to.
Uriah had more discipline drunk than David did sober (Uriah refused to sleep with his wife even after David got him drunk and told him to go home to his wife!)
I know that unaccountable, free time is a dangerous time. I believe that had David known the outcome of his actions he never would have taken a second look! Let’s all take a moment to ponder Paul’s words from Galatians 6:7, “Don’t be mislead – you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.”
This may be a good reminder for some and it may be a wake-up call for others. Let God’s Spirit use it in your life as he did in mine.
Tim
This Sunday I am going to be speaking on the topic of balance in our walk with God. Here is a ‘sneak peak’ into where I am going:
“I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. There I will wait to see what the Lord says.” -Habakkuk 2:1
We all need a ‘watchtower’; a place where we can go to get above the noise and routines of our lives and hear God speak to us. For Habakkuk it was on top of a wall. For me it is a woods or park. Where do you hear God the clearest? I’d love to know.
Tim
May19
Last Sunday I spoke on the topic of balance in our finances. One of the comments I made was that we should practice contentment and one way to to that was to compare down. I know we should not compare at all, but too often we, or at least I, compare up and become dissatisfied with what God has already provided for us.
As Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:6-8, “True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, just be content.”
This might help; go to How Rich Are You and type in your annual income. You will immediately be shown where in relationship to the rest of the world you are. I think you will be amazed, humbled and maybe even a little more content. My thanks to my son, Josh, for sending me this link.
Tim
This morning, in my devotional reading I read the following statement from a German theologian by the name of Rupertus Meldenius, who lived over 400 years ago. I’m pretty sure no statement of mine will last that long; his did and for good reason. Here it is. Let’s all give it a chance to live in our lives today.
“In essentials things, unity. In nonessential things, freedom. In all things, love.”
Tim
