Tag: bible

The Lord Is For Me

On By Daniel CooleyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

What makes Psalm 118 so powerful is its context. This was a song written for and often sung at Israel’s great feast days including Passover and the high holy days. It was likely on the lips of the crowd when Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and possibly sung again in the Upper Room after He celebrated the Passover and instituted the first communion with His disciples (Matthew 26:30). Knowing what was coming, the betrayal, the arrest, the cross and the resurrection, I find myself wondering what was going through Jesus’ mind as He sang those words.

Psalm 118:1 (CSB) 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever. … 6 The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me?

When life isn’t going the way we hoped, it can be tempting to doubt God’s goodness, The possibilities for the future can terrify us. But things not going our way does not mean God is no longer good or that His love has grown cold. His plan for us is best, just as it was best for Jesus to go to the cross for our sins. In the garden, Jesus was gripped by the weight of what was coming, yet He trusted His Father and walked willingly into it. Mere mortals did not take the life of King Jesus. He gave it.

“Not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42

We can be terrified when we look through the windshield of life and yet remain steadfast in our trust in the goodness of God. Being unafraid doesn’t mean that things will always go the way we hope. It means we can trust that God’s faithful love endures forever. HE IS FOR YOU.

An old sermon outline comes to mind:

  • God is all-loving, therefore He wants what is best for us.
  • God is all-knowing, therefore He knows what is best for us.
  • God is all-powerful, therefore He can bring about what is best for us.

Be encouraged. Whatever we are tempted to fear is temporary. God is for you, and His faithful love endures forever.

Dan

What You Want for Christmas is Already on Your Cellphone

On By Daniel CooleyIn Confessions of an Idiot Pastor1 Comment

Your cellphone tells you what you value most. My new shotgun Christmas lights got me thinking of a few of my favorite things – things I had taken pictures of on my cellphone – things I could use more of this Christmas. Leaving people out, what is on your phone?

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#1 Birthdays: I’m not suppose to eat Boston Cream Pie anymore – but I can get away with it on my birthday. My wife JoLynn makes it from scratch, something she thought my mother did when we were first married. She misunderstood. Or i lied. Mom made it from a box. This stuff is to die for. I just may.

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#2 Roadrunners: This one came by as I was working on the truck. I’ve not idea why I like them and hate cats. But I do. I’d NEVER take a picture of a cat. Alive.

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#? Spitfires: I’m lying. Fun as they are, you need a spare garage for the 10 months a year you’ll be working on it. I got this ’64 to flip. Wanna buy it? 5k and it’s all yours. It is beautiful, and it runs. . . today. Get it for Christmas!!

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#3 Hot Air Balloons: More of them landing outside my backyard. We’ve had a few of those – lots around right now due to the Balloon Fiesta. I’d like about one a month landing outside our backyard, and I’d like to ride in one to get it off my bucket list, and I’d like to have no extra ABQ traffic during the fiesta. Just bring the balloons for us, no tourists please.

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#4 Compassion Kids: This is one of our Compassion kids, Bregard, with my daughter Megan in Haiti, in the house we helped purchase.

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#5 Micah’s Miata Back: We took that transmission out twice, then it got totaled a month later. I think it’s in heaven. I wonder if you get good cornering traction on those streets?

That’s it. 2 cars and no people pictures allowed. Truth is, four kids will do me. Do me in maybe? And one wife, although the best part of my life down here, is plenty.  Solomon was an idiot. Or a wise man who had a hard time saying no.

These were just pictures from my cellphone – except the balloon one as the phone one was lousy. Yes, it’s shallow. Still, does your cell phone reveal what silly things you would like to see more of this Christmas?

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Don’t Forget – Bizarre Bible Stories 2! hits the store shelves the end of the month. Stay tuned to CNN or FOX News for further developments. . . if I get sued. Otherwise just check back in here, your local bookstore, or Amazon