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Written by Mark Sorensen
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Friday, 03 September 2010 19:48 |
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Been hung up on the word, "Renew" lately.
On a daily basis, I am surrounded by electronics that are ALWAYS in need of recharging. Last night, as I went to plug my phone in, my charger was on the counter as my kids had claimed BOTH wall plug ins for their own electronic devices. Earlier this morning I found a spot at an overcrowded coffee shop and opened up the lap top to see I had 12 minutes left on my computer battery and, of course, no wall charger near me to plug into. Earlier this week, my Kindle was dead, thus leaving me to have to MANUALLY pick up a book and actually have to lift my arms to flip pages (the horror of it all).
Oh, the inconveniences of living in a technological age.
But as I was spending time in the Word, I ran across a verse that I had read hundreds of times but it hit me in a new way. So, I pass along to you praying that you might be in the same place as I.
We are a busy culture. It is not uncommon to sit at an intersection and look at the cars surrounding you seeing people on their blackberries, I-phones, rotary phones (ok, maybe not those) texting, talking, going, doing. I am in the ministry and I am, all too often, running all over town; meeting, greeting, investing in lives.
Busy is not a bad thing. But here's where I am this week:
Busyness WITHOUT renewal = Emptyness.
Look throughout the gospels. Over and over Jesus is on the move. He is meeting, greeting, loving. But then this crazy thing would happen. He would stop. He would go to a quiet place and be... renewed (Mark 1:35)
So here's the thing. If Jesus, being God in flesh, saw it necessary to spend time with His Father, over and over again in the gospels, can we really live our lives thinking an occasional Sunday morning check in at worship is enough?
I needed this message this week. I have been running on empty. But time spent in the Word has led to a refilling and a renewing of my soul and God has found me in the midst of my emptiness and renewing me daily.
So the good news for each of you, today? He can do the same to you.
Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Be filled and know that you are loved, my friends. |
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Written by Mark Sorensen
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Monday, 30 August 2010 18:43 |
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So I spoke this past Sunday on finding God in the midst of chaos in our lives. It is a topic that I feel very qualified to preach. It seems that there is always some type of conflict or adversity that our family is running into. My heart resonates with Mother Teresa when she shared, "I know the Lord doesn't give us more than we can handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."
Reading through the book of Numbers in the old testament I came across a passage where Moses just PUTS IT OUT THERE to God. Not sure why reading it it makes me uncomfortable. Maybe it is because I feel, at times, I really can't be THAT honest with God, can I? But Moses does and he holds nothing back.
Moses said to God, "Why are you treating me this way? What did I ever do to you to deserve this? Did I conceive them? Was I their mother? So why dump the responsibility of this people on me? Why tell me to carry them around like a nursing mother, carry them all the way to the land you promised to their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people who are whining to me, 'Give us meat; we want meat.' I can't do this by myself—it's too much, all these people. If this is how you intend to treat me, do me a favor and kill me. I've seen enough; I've had enough. Let me out of here."
Moses has been holding the frustration of leading the Israelites and they were, apparently, a whiney group of people. And when God puts it out there to God, God responds with two things. One, he tells Moses to bring 70 people back with him and God will put the burden on their shoulders as well as Moses did not have to carry it alone. Secondly, God asks Moses the following question:
"The LORD answered Moses, 'Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.'"
What a beautiful question. God is saying, "Do you really think that you are so far away from me that I can't hold you where you are at right now?"
We forget that sometimes, huh? We get caught in our circumstances. We try to drive the car when, in reality, we were never called to control, simply to follow and trust.
So my prayer to each of you reading this now is that you would be held by the arms of God who is still very much in control of your life.
God is good all the time and all the time... God is GOOD! |
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Written by Mark Sorensen
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Friday, 15 January 2010 05:39 |
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Writing this about 6 hours before the team leaves Les Cayes for the Dominican Republic. Just can't get my mind off of the uncertainties of the trip and how Nycki, Hu and Brit must be feeling. But have a nugget that was given to me last night in a moment that I needed it and must pass it along to those of you joining in this journey with the team and praying over the next 24 hours for the trip they are about to make.
I sat at the edge of the bed last night really torn about how they were going to make their way through a place that was so torn, devastated and face roads that could possibly be impassable. I struggled with the uncertainties I had and asked God for some serious peace to, once again, come back and flood the places in my heart that were losing control. That is when I opened up the bible directly to this passage, straight to this verse...
Isaiah 42:16
"I will lead the blind
by a road they do not know,
by paths they have now known
I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I will do,
and I will not forsake them."
I don't think I could have asked for a more direct answer from God. I literally closed the bible, leaned back and felt God say, "Anything else you need?"
Tonight, I lay in bed thinking about my wife. Thinking about Britney and Hu and the driver that will be leading them to the Dominican Republic. I think about the pain and loss and the years of rebuilding to follow for Haiti. But I remember the promise of God that He is still very much here. Present. God has not left us. He is near and hears the cries of His children.
I am thankful for you, my friends.
Please continue to join me in the prayers for our team's safety in their trip tomorrow, and for the people of Haiti. Our mission is only beginning.
Blessings. |
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Written by Mark Sorensen
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Monday, 30 August 2010 17:53 |
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"Be still and know that I Am..."
Psalm 46:10 |
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Written by Mark Sorensen
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Wednesday, 30 December 2009 17:35 |
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Found this quote today and loved it. Had to share. Blessings to each of you, my friends...
"Any man can sing in the day. When the cup is full, man draws inspiration from it. When wealth rolls in abundance around him, any man can praise the God who gives a plenteous harvest… The difficulty is for music to swell forth when no wind is stirring. It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but he is skillful who sings when there is not a ray of light to read by -- who sings from the heart… Lay me upon the bed of languishing, and how shall I then chant God's high praises, unless He Himself give me the song? No, it is not in man's power to sing when all is adverse, unless an altar-coal shall touch his lip… Then, since our Maker gives 'songs in the night' (Job 35:10), let us wait upon Him for the music."
-Charles Spurgeon
Markus |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 December 2009 17:37 |
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