Forgiving Dad

Dad,

You tore our family apart.  You made me endure the worst experience of my life.  You set an example that it’s ok to betray your marriage.  You dishonored me and my mother.  You weren’t there when I needed you.  You didn’t provide the male role model I needed as a boy.  You didn’t teach me what I needed to be an adult and how to relate with other people.  You were absent.  You created such chaos that my life spun completely out of control.

I forgive you, Dad.  I trust that God was there, through it all.  I trust that God’s purpose will triumph through your mistakes and the tragedy they caused.  I release your judgment to God.  I trust that your mistakes have already cost you dearly, and I don’t want to hold on to that baggage any longer.

I forgive you.. I forgive you.. I forgive you.

The Rock San Diego – 7/6/08 sermon

1 Samuel

• Went from Judges to Kings
• Judges period was 300 years from when Joshua died until the first king – Saul
• After king Saul was king David (Jesus was son of David)

• Benefit
• How does God benefit from what you’re asking for?
• Lord, if you give me _____, I will give it back to you.
• Servant
• Everything you ask for should be designed for you to serve Him
• Changing
• Recognize how a delayed answer is changing your heart
• Don’t get attitude and drift away from the answer

• Change the power of your prayer
• Place
• Time
• Pen
• Paper
• Bible

• When He speaks to you, obey
• To be blessed today, go do what God told you to do
• God would rather you do what He says than do Him a favor
• If you don’t obey Him and you’re doing something on your own terms, you’re making up your own religion
• Decide what your ‘used to’ is / are
• You don’t do anything.  God changes you and then works through you.

• Admire
• Wait
• Confess
• Intercede
• Petition
• Admire

The Shack

After putting the book down for quite some time after reading a pretty disturbing first 25% of the book, I have now picked it back up and am really learning from it (even though it’s a fictional novel). This has come at a time when I’ve been lead to focus on my relationship with God, rather than book learning (after having read in Experiencing God about the love relationship. I felt that that was an area that I felt lacking, and it’s the one area that matters most.

The Shack has given me some good perspective on how the relationship with the Lord is very personal, and some good perspective on the loving nature of God. It would even be worth another read to capture notes.

The Shack

Paradigms power perceptions and perceptions power emotions

The Shack

Jesus fulfilled the Law for us, so that it no longer has jurisdiction over us.  And the Law that once contained impossible demands – thou shall not – actually becomes a promise God fulfills in us.

The Shack

Pearls are the only precious stone made by pain, suffering, and – finally – death

Wisdom is From God

Just because you have the right answers does not mean you have understanding or wisdom.  That only comes from a personal relationship with God.