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“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Dr. Isidro Ayabar grew up in Spanish Harlem as the oldest child of Dominican parents. His love for God and music were instilled early in his life. His [...] Read More
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to [...] Read More
There were two completely full tables of individuals that never looked at me. I stood behind the lectern and addressed an audience in Frederick, Maryland – only to discover that a significant group of individuals were paying no attention to me. In fact, their eyes and attention were locked on Jennifer. Jennifer was a competent [...] Read More
Shhh ... He's sleeping.
Being a movie star may seem glamorous, until you see this interview Michael Caine, 80, and Morgan Freeman, 75, gave to Fox's Seattle-Tacoma affiliate TV station, Q13, on Wednesday.
As anchors Kaci Aitchison and Bill Wixey discussed magic tricks with Caine to promote Now You See Me, Freeman showed he was in serious need of a nap. His eyes closed at times. And when the camera came back from showing a clip, his head was drooping way down on his chest.
It didn't prevent Caine from merrily explaining the tricks in the film. Freeman woke to nod now and then. And when he asked the question: "What is the key to being a great narrator?," Freeman responded with, "Uh, probably just being a good reader."
UPDATE: Freeman sent USA TODAY a statement about his interview: "I wasn't actually sleeping. I'm a beta tester for Google Eyelids. I was merely updating my Facebook page."
Story and Photo source: usatoday.com.
1 Kings 19:1-8 (NLT)
1 When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.
7 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”
8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about sleep?
Have you ever nodded off in the middle of a conversation? Have you ever caught yourself falling asleep in the middle of class? While Morgan Freeman's "nodding off" gained national attention, it is not that uncommon. When our body needs sleep, it is going to get it one way or another.
In today's God's Story scripture, Elijah is experiencing the depths of fatigue and discouragement. He has just come through two great spiritual victories. He defeated the Prophets of Baal and he saw God answer his prayer for rain. Great spiritual victories like these imply there has been a spiritual battle going on. And spiritual battles can take a greater toll on our physical body, as well as our emotional state, than we ever realized. In today's scripture, God allowed Elijah to sleep before he went on in his journey. Notice the first thing the angel tells Elijah after He wakes him up - "eat!" Our body needs nourishment as well as sleep. Amazingly, the next part of Elijah's journey lasted 40 days and 40 nights, but it ended with more sleep. (adapted from Tyndales Life Application Study Bible Notes)
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
As summer approaches it is a great time to make a commitment to eat well and get enough sleep.
How can I connect Today's Story, God's Story, and My Story to Others?
Even before Jack Nicholson starred in the movie Bucket List in 2007 the term had taken hold in our society. According to ehow.com, the term refers to a list of events, destinations, and activities an individual wants to do before they die -- or “kick the bucket.” Whole books have even been written on the subject of how to make a bucket list, including thousands of suggestions for things that others believe are essential to be on that list. And the purpose of making a bucket list? Those who do insist it is to find joy through seeing and experiencing things outside the normal patterns of one’s life, and to feel a sense of achievement or accomplishment through these experiences.
Photo from images.google.com
Psalm 16:11 (NLT)
You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
Revelation 4:11 (NLT)
“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
What does God’s Story scripture teach us about bucket lists?
God has given us an amazing planet on which to live, and He has created so many beautiful things for us at which we can marvel and wonder! Doing something out of the ordinary, or seeing a beautiful place in our world, is certainly something that can bring happiness to a person. But a life spent pursuing that kind of temporary happiness is missing the mark of God’s purpose for us. When we seek Him to know the way He wants us to live, and when we make it our goal to bring Him glory in all we do, He promises that we will find joy in His presence and the pleasure of living with Him forever.
How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture to My Life?
We are reminded in Romans 14:12 that one day we will stand before the Lord to give an account of our lives. Will you have spent your life seeking to find the next great trip or cool experience for yourself? Or will you be able to answer that you made every effort to bring honor and glory to God in all that you did? Will you have found your greatest pleasure in the created world or in its Creator? A “bucket list” in itself is not a bad thing, as long as you make sure that it doesn’t consume you as your life’s purpose. Ask God to use your goals and desires to bring Him glory. And don’t forget to find joy in the beauty that He has created around you even now: the painted sky at sunset and the constancy of glistening constellations in a clear night sky, the feel of laughing until your cheeks hurt and the way your taste buds can turn good food into a good mood.
How can I connect Today’s Story, God’s Story, and My Story to Others?
Most people have at least a mental list of things they would like to do or places they want to visit before they die. Start a conversation about bucket lists and find out why they have chosen the things they have. If the above questions have helped you re-think your own bucket list, share that and explain why. Be prepared to share with them some verses from scripture about bringing glory to God in all that we do and how only He can give us true and lasting joy.
Why penguins stopped flying
Penguins are excellent swimmers. But even with wings, the aquatic flightless birds do not take to the skies despite having wing-like flippers.
In fact, a new study says that penguins became so good at swimming that they eventually evolved to specialize at that skill at the cost of airborne flight.
"Like many people, I've always been interested in penguins, and seeing them do these phenomenal marches across the ice, I've often thought: 'Why don't they just fly?' Professor John Speakman, from the University of Aberdeen and the Chinese Academy of Sciences...
The new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, says that at least five species of penguin have adapted into flightless birds...In fact, many studies compare penguins’ underwater prowess to being like flight beneath the waves. And just how good at swimming are they? They can swim at speeds up to 8mph over a distance of 100 miles, and up to six times faster under duress. And while most penguins catch their food near the water’s surface, some Emperor penguins have been known to dive 1,870 feet for more than 20 minutes.
"Basically the hypothesis is that as the wings became more and more efficient for them to dive, they became less and less efficient for them to fly,” Speakman said. "At some point it became so 'expensive' for them to fly, that it was better to give up flying altogether and make the wings into small flippers."
yahoo news and images
"Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
What does today's God Story scripture teach us about trust?
Moses was fearful and unwilling to trust and obey God, all because he didn't think he was gifted in speech. He thought of only his personal short comings and not of God's divine power and gifts. Moses questioned God plan, from a burning bush. A BURNING BUSH! If you cant trust God in a burning bush who can you trust??
If you read this passage in its entirety (I encourage you to do that) you see Moses make up excuse after excuse. Yet God reminds Moses to not believe in worldly things but trust God and trust in God's plan.
How can I connect today's story and God's story scripture to my life?
Do you feel like moses or the penguin these days? Is God asking you to do something and you are making up excuses why you CAN'T do it? Maybe we've become so accustomed to settling with the mentality that you are "as good as you can be" at doing things. It is only out of our own stuberness that we fail to tap into the incredible power of the Holy Spirit, which God's given us complete access to. Think about it, in the same way penguins have gotten so good at just swimming, and they never fly anymore. We too get so used to relying on our own abilities (or not) that we miss out on the excitement of "flying" with the Holy Spirit. We fail to trust or take risks that might be beyond our control .
How can we connect Today's Story, God's Story and My Story to others?
Allow God to use you in your friends life this season. Has there been something that God has been putting on your heart to share. Go and speak truth into your friends life. Speak to them of the faith Moses had to be able to overcome the things in his life that he was afraid of doing. Ask God to help you use the gifts he has given you. Use your wings as rusty as they might be to speak truth to your friends.
Read MoreFriday Fragment: Jesus on Lead Guitar http://t.co/65FkMFoj38 #youthmin #stumin
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