I am up and running again tonight. For two days I was without my laptop. Since last Sunday afternoon I've had a problem with my power adaptor. It stopped working. That left me with a computer that wouldn't turn on.
Thankfully I was able to order an new power cord and it arrived this afternoon. It was as simple as that. I plugged it in and I was reborn.
I find church is like that. When I am run down and not working properly, I need to find a place to worship and recharge my batteries. god speaks to me when I come to worship. He lifts my spirits and gets me going again.
Are you feeling a little down? Go to church this week. Let God recharge your batteries and get you up and running again.
Cal
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Amazed by Jesus
I don't get into the snow like some people. It just makes me sad. so when I found this clip this morning it brightened my day. I hope you are amazed by Jesus and really enjoy it.
Cal
Cal
Monday, February 8, 2010
The house guest
On January 28th Max Lucado's calendar says "Fear will always knock on your door. Just don't invite it in for dinner, and for heaven's sake don't offer it a bed for the night."
What great imagery. Fear has a way of becoming real and it takes on a personality of it's own. I can't tell you how many nights I have let a worry or a fear pester me. When that happens it is like having a person in the house with you nagging you and beating you down. What's worse is when it wakes you up in the middle of the night and won't let you get back to sleep. Then it keeps after you until you give in and let it have its way.
Do you know how many times Jesus told his disciples not to be afraid? He did it all the time. He wanted them to know that He was with them and God would not leave abandon them. That's good news for us too. When it seems like everyone else has left us, God is still at our side, silently standing watch.
I like the illustration I heard about the coming of age ritual of one of the Native American tribes from another era. They would take the young man out into the woods blindfolded and then leave him to survive the night. The sounds, the dark images that appeared through his mask would leave him frightened but he dare not speak out. Then as dawn approached he could remove the mask. And there within sight he would find his father or uncle at a safe distance away keeping watch. He was never alone and in any danger at all. So it is with us as God keeps watch. So don't let fear into your house. Tell it to god away because you've already got company.
Cal
What great imagery. Fear has a way of becoming real and it takes on a personality of it's own. I can't tell you how many nights I have let a worry or a fear pester me. When that happens it is like having a person in the house with you nagging you and beating you down. What's worse is when it wakes you up in the middle of the night and won't let you get back to sleep. Then it keeps after you until you give in and let it have its way.
Do you know how many times Jesus told his disciples not to be afraid? He did it all the time. He wanted them to know that He was with them and God would not leave abandon them. That's good news for us too. When it seems like everyone else has left us, God is still at our side, silently standing watch.
I like the illustration I heard about the coming of age ritual of one of the Native American tribes from another era. They would take the young man out into the woods blindfolded and then leave him to survive the night. The sounds, the dark images that appeared through his mask would leave him frightened but he dare not speak out. Then as dawn approached he could remove the mask. And there within sight he would find his father or uncle at a safe distance away keeping watch. He was never alone and in any danger at all. So it is with us as God keeps watch. So don't let fear into your house. Tell it to god away because you've already got company.
Cal
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Open our eyes Lord
Here is a song to start your day. May God open your eyes to catch a glimpse of His glory.
Cal
Cal
Monday, February 1, 2010
He will be with you
It struck me that the disciples had a good reason to trust Jesus. After all, they saw him heal the sick, cast out demons and even calm the wind. He could do everything and he did it right in front of him. Yet at times they all showed their doubt. When things got rough, they questioned whether their faith had any foundation. When the storms came up, they wondered if Jesus could calm the sea one more time. When they saw the poor, the sick, the demonized, they wondered if there were too many for him to heal.
If the disciples faltered in their faith from time to time, then who could blame you or me? Life is difficult and the world is not an easy place to navigate. Jesus once said that we will have trials and tribulations and boy, was he right. He also promised that he would never leave us or forsake us. That's the good news.
The truth is that most of us know this to be true from our own experience. No one has to tell us that God is real. We've seen him in action in our lives. We've had some amazing coincidences that could only be from God.
If you are going through a tough time right now, call on him and he will be with you, just as he was in the past. That's his promise.
Cal
If the disciples faltered in their faith from time to time, then who could blame you or me? Life is difficult and the world is not an easy place to navigate. Jesus once said that we will have trials and tribulations and boy, was he right. He also promised that he would never leave us or forsake us. That's the good news.
The truth is that most of us know this to be true from our own experience. No one has to tell us that God is real. We've seen him in action in our lives. We've had some amazing coincidences that could only be from God.
If you are going through a tough time right now, call on him and he will be with you, just as he was in the past. That's his promise.
Cal
Thursday, January 28, 2010
God answers prayers
The Tigers are coming to Norwich and guess who is excited. When the reporters saw me with my Tiger hat on at the press conference, they wanted to talk to me. I could barely contain my enthusiasm. I told one of them that the Tigers coming to town was an answer to prayer. I meant it too.
But we all know that some prayers matter more than others. My wife and I had this discussion many years ago. I was in college and had a test coming up. I told her I was praying for a good grade. Lori laughed and said, "If you want a good grade you better start studying. You don't pray for that."
Ever since then I have changed my prayer pattern. I started praying that God would allow me to do my best on the test. I prayed against mental blocks and just asked God to allow me to remember everything I had studied. And I did alright after that. Of course the studying helped.
I guess the same thing happened this week with the Connecticut Tigers. I just kept praying that the city would diligently seek a new team and that God would bless their efforts. Guess what? Prayers were answered all around.
Cal
But we all know that some prayers matter more than others. My wife and I had this discussion many years ago. I was in college and had a test coming up. I told her I was praying for a good grade. Lori laughed and said, "If you want a good grade you better start studying. You don't pray for that."
Ever since then I have changed my prayer pattern. I started praying that God would allow me to do my best on the test. I prayed against mental blocks and just asked God to allow me to remember everything I had studied. And I did alright after that. Of course the studying helped.
I guess the same thing happened this week with the Connecticut Tigers. I just kept praying that the city would diligently seek a new team and that God would bless their efforts. Guess what? Prayers were answered all around.
Cal
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
What a mess
I saw the meatballs in the refrigerator and I couldn't help myself. I grabbed a fork and took one. I know they were for the dinner tomorrow night but who would know? As I brought it up to my mouth a big glob of spaghetti sauce went flying to the floor. Then another glob of sauce dropped. As I reached for a napkin a third splash hit the counter.
I laughed as I thought about the mess my harmless little indiscretion had caused. That's the way it is with sin too. We may think it is just a little thing but there is always a mess to clean up afterwards. Sin scars our lives and leaves its imprint in its wake.
Praise God that Jesus comes to offer us a second chance. He cleans up the mess and leaves us looking like new. But his sacrifice came with a cost. It cost him his life on the cross.
Next time I'll think before I reach for the meatballs. I'll think twice the next time I think about sinning too. The price for that was way too much. I'd much rather do something that glorifies God.
Cal
I laughed as I thought about the mess my harmless little indiscretion had caused. That's the way it is with sin too. We may think it is just a little thing but there is always a mess to clean up afterwards. Sin scars our lives and leaves its imprint in its wake.
Praise God that Jesus comes to offer us a second chance. He cleans up the mess and leaves us looking like new. But his sacrifice came with a cost. It cost him his life on the cross.
Next time I'll think before I reach for the meatballs. I'll think twice the next time I think about sinning too. The price for that was way too much. I'd much rather do something that glorifies God.
Cal
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