"Back to walking"

I am going on a trip for a week and will be back to blog on April 5. Hopefully and prayerfully, I will gain insight and depth to share. Happy Spring to all!!!

Dan Z

"James"

We also have this name to be thankful for in our family. I wonder if the choices were made intentional or just coincidence?

James is Jesus"s brother and also our brother. His mission is to unite all people to Christ. Our brother is often uniting us to a single cause too!!

Drawing people together in a single cause is exactly what Jesus's ministry was all about. God wanted all of his people to acknowledge, respect, follow and obey him. He sent his son, Jesus, and we are all forever blessed. Praise God!!!

Verses: James 1: 2-8 19-27 Psalm 145

"Matthew"

This book of the bible also is a family members name. My prayer is that one day our Matthew walks with God, and is a faithful follower!!

The Matthew in the bible is filled with Gods' wisdom. I tend to go here often for guidance and wisdom from God. The four gospels do offer a lot of instruction to us all. Matthew is filled with Jesus's teachings.

Parables are his method of opening our minds to his teachings and expectations of us. All of them offer insight into our human condition and its' shortcomings.

Verses: John 7: 14-18 Matt 7: 1-5 12-14 23-27

"Jeremiah"

This is somewhat of a tribute to a lost relative. As some already know, my family lost a member a few weeks ago. His name was Jeremiah!
In the bible this man had many difficulties to overcome. This would seem to also be true of our cousin. They each did their best to endure and succeed at their lives.
We are all inspired and encouraged to do the same. Our cousin is gone but our duty is (as Jeremiah of the bible), to perservere and live our lives to impact others in positve and God-like ways. Pray: God, give comfort to those who are hurting and allow us to be comforted.
Verses: Jer 20: 1-6 Jer 11: 18-20 Eph 4: 1-8

"Daniel"

Here is a book of the bible I should be most fond of ( a name I can relate to!). I would'nt venture to say I know this book of the bible real well though?

I attended a bible study and was enlightened by the story of Daniel. I believe in every book of the bible there are numerous lessons to be learned. Often someone elses explanations are eye opening.

Daniels talents were many, Interperting dreams was just one of them. I also get the sense that he was very sucessful at gaining trust. His trust and faith in God seem to be boundless. We can all learn a lot from his story.

Verses: Daniel 2: 46-49 Daniel 6: 15-24 Prov 3: 5-6

"Launch a new ministry"

I have a lot of good ideas but I don't always follow up on them. I often wonder what may have become of some of them? All great accomplishments come from an idea and the motivation to start it in motion.

The needs are always there and the needs, need someone to take action. I am sure with Gods' blessing anything can be a reality. Even the seemingly smallest of these can be hugely impactful.

All this present world needs is more people willing to take action and start a new area of God in our lives. Pray: God give us insights and strength, and motivation to do all sorts of awesome things!

Verse: Hebrews 11 (all)

"Ask for Help"

I am sure I struggle with asking for help from most everyone. I am sure it has limited my potential. I would guess I am not alone in this area?

It is somehow difficult to admit that we can't do it all alone. As I get older I realize that asking for help is in fact a strength, not a weakness. When we join together in a common passion our success is more likely.

The purpose of church and community is to bring people together. In doing so, all lives are enhanced and enlightened! Pray God: Lead us to those who can join forces with us and those that need our support.

Verses: Psalm 121: 1-8 1Co 12: 27-31 Matt 18: 18-20

"Decide to use our gifts"

What good are we if we are just a clanging gong? All the noise in the world is not really helping anything. Actions taken with love, have a higher success rate

When we live life to serve others and do it with passion, we we all will win. Motivation comes easy and effortlessly then. Our enthusiasm is genuine and procuctive.

Pray that God will fill our hearts with his desire for each of us and the means to carry it out!!

Verses: 1Cor 12 27-31 1Cor 13: 1-3 James 2: 14-26

"Discover our talents"

Just as I have discovered, I am not particularly talented at basketball! I can however repair things quite well. I also have discovered new things God has gifted me with.

It seems to me that if we use what we are blessed with to help others, our success will be highest. That explains why taller people tend to be better at basketball!

I am sure all of us have talents we may or may not even be aware of? There are also talents that are maturing inside each of us. Very much like the mustard seed, we just need water and nourishment to prosper.

Verses: Matt13: 31-32 Acts 2: 38-39 1Peter4: 10-11

"Recognize a need"

Everyday some kind of experience we have is a knock on our door. In all we do some where along the way, God is going to offer us opportunity.
We may or may not even be aware of it? Sometimes the simplest act of a kind word, or pat on the back will suffice.
Sometimes it will be even more of an act of service. We can be there to pick up some of the extras in someone else's' life. Even an action can affect others and allow them to see God shining through us. Their needs may just have been met, as they needed hope and encouragement! We all should pay more attention to where the need may be.
Verses: Prov 14: 21 Prov 31: 20 Isaiah 58: 6-11 Matt 6: 2-4

"God leading us"

I often wonder who is leading me and where are we going?? I want to follow God and believe I am for the most part. All christians I have met would seem to feel the same way.

It can be difficult to know if we are truly on the right track? Generally the things we say and do could be considered God inspired. There are also actions and words that seem less so.

Aspiring to allow God to lead us is in fact just that! Success is hard to define. Maybe we are a lot like "What About Bob", taking baby steps. They may be our best option. Pray, God show and encourage us to follow you more closely. Verses: Prov1 : 1-7 Eph 3: 14-19 Deut 5(all)

"God all around us"

There was a movie a few years back that depicted God as everywhere and in everything. Any rock you turned over, the bark on a tree, the clouds in the sky, even the leg on your table, were Gods' presence. The idea being that God is everywhere and in everything.
The theme might have come from Native Americans? I believe that their culture sees God as responsible for, and a part of, everything. This is biblical truth also! All we have and know comes from God.
There is great comfort in knowing that our creator is all powerful and sovereign. To experience and recognize God in every aspect of our lives draws us closer to him. Our interaction with God is only limited by our own limitations! Praise God for his enormity! Verses: 1Ch 29: 10-13 Rev 19: 1 Col 1: 15-20

"God as our Father"

We all need a father figure. Every human being will search out and try to find one. Some of us may actually have a father that is our Dad! Others may have to find an alternative.

It's all to easy to pursue the wrong type of father. Many not so good father figures exist in this world. Some are in fact our own dads.

The one true and faithful father is and always has been God! No human being or other en tiny can fill that role. God is and always will be the supreme being to all of us. Some may not even be aware of his presence. We are blessed beyond understanding to have the greatest father of all!! Verses: Act 17: 22-31 John 14: 1-14 Romans 4: 11 Matt 6: 5-15

"God,when all else is lost"

Everyone has had an experience where life seemed pretty gloomy. Very little hope for the future,very little optimism to lean on. Divorce,death, health,relationships, career, all can deliver a blow to us.

We lift our hands up an pray to God the father, for support and strength. We need the Holy Spirit to fill us up and carry us through the mud and muck! There is no greater comfort than the knowledge that God is in control.

The creator of heaven and earth is the source of our strength. How wonderful to know our lives are being so closely held by God, when all else seems lost!!

Verses: Isaiah 49: 15-18 Zeph 3: 17 Ge 14: 18-20

"Gods' Power Revealed"

I am always astounded when God pops up in my life! I know he is always there, but it is sometimes hard to see that? Out of no explainable situation, God will just pop up and make his presence known.

That's a hard act to follow! We are human and fall way short of Gods' power. We are empowered by God though. We need his everlasting and awesome power and presence all of our lives.

Every aspect of our lives need to be entwined with God. The Pastors will preach "Get closer to God"," Live your life for God" Pray and ask God for guidance in all you do! Thank God for all of your blessings, both pleasant and not so pleasant.

Through a life filled with God his power and grace become all so clearer!

Verses: Psalm 63(all) Rev 4: 9-11 Isaiah 40: 10-14

"Walking with God"

I suppose all of our lives would be so much better if we would spend more of our time walking with God. We all have moments of his presence and ours in twined. We also have moments where we have drifted away.
There was a devotional about a man who was trying to perfect a constant communication with God. In every minute of every day he tried to be prayerful and receptive to God. It takes a lot of discipline to do that! I doubt any of us can completely succeed, after all we are humans and fallible.
Many other things in our lives consume our attention and time. At best I would think we could strive to be more deeply in touch with God. There are many ways to just that, and each of us have our own style.
I can't count how many times God has joined me in a "song" and for that period of time we are one with each other!! Verses: 1Thes 3: 11-13 Phil 4: 4-7 Psalm 105 : 1-5

"Things to observe"

I realize now that there are a few hearty souls out there riding their bikes in extreme conditions. I can't imagine blowing snow,ice and cold being pleasant to ride on at all ! They resort to studded tires and multiple layers of clothes and head coverings to stay warm.I suppose it is working for them as they continue to do it. Having a dog also seems to be a good encouragement to go out even on the coldest days. They must realize their pets' needs are natural and not to be ignored!

Smoking is bad for your health, but many are addicted and will endure any amount of cold to get their fix. At businesses I pass, they huddle together as if to conserve the warmth, or maybe to get a stonger dose of nicotine?

I have even observed a domestic dispute! I kind of wonder why a woman in short pajamas would need to discuss her relationship on the snow covered street at 5:05 am and 20 degrees. Such is the human heart that we are all falling short of Gods' perfection. It's all part of Gods' awesome world!! Verses: Psalm 24: 1-6 Psalm 27:11 Luke 1: 78-80

"Insights of Walking"

Four months of walking and I keep going to the same places! (or do I?). Such is life when our jobs and homes are the two places we spend most of our time. However, there is a lot to be said for quiet time with God. Finding it sometimes seems difficult? Sometimes, it takes a life change to encourage and direct us. There would seem to be a limit to how many ways to get from A-B. Especially when A-B are the same two places! I have become quite good at "alternate routes". Some take a little longer, but always offer a new landscape to observe. I have grown fond of my walks and as I switch to bicycling, I will miss them but will return to walking as the seasons dictate. Verses: Deut 11: 16-21 Isaiah 2: 3-5 Micah 6: 8