Thanks for your prayers, expressions of love to my parents, and thanksgiving to God for His protection of them yesterday. Amazingly, they seem to be doing fine, and will be at service tonight...
Several of you commented on the pics yesterday (thanks)...here's some more that I like, along with a great passage of Scripture...
Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. 
Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? 
Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. 
If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. 
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:26-34, The Message
See you tonight...
27 comments:
Love the pic of the little girl... so innocent & carefree.. high in the sky without a thought of being scared or worried about what is below..but enjoying the moment...putting all of her trust in whatever & knowing that she will be safe & secure...that's how God wants us to be...
Enjoy the moment & be free...
Here to Worship & Serve
I am in pursuit and focused on being debt free, and am excited about what that is going to look, sound, taste, smell and feel like.
I like the picture of the birds and the part about free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description,(or debt) careless in the care of God.
Bishop Tommy Smith I pray that plenty of money finds you, that you will be able to bless
those that... You truly are a blessing.
“Tis only God may be had for the asking.” (James Russell Lowell)
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch” is certainly true of most things. If we want flowers, we have to dig. If we yearn for the prize, we have to win it. We get nothing that we don’t earn and pay for –except the one thing which is most important- God’s friendship and love.
God alone, as each of us understands Him to be, comes freely to anyone with an open heart. The least socially acceptable person in this world is acceptable to God. The divine gift is always there for the asking.
Why do we wear ourselves out rushing after meaningless trinkets and pats on the head when all the while, just outside the door of decision, is the power and the love that make all things possible and precious?
I will determine what is important in each day and what is not- and let that guide my decisions.
I will examine the quality of my thoughts each day to know how bless I am.
I accept the fact that I have a lot of footwork to do. I will do my part and trust in God to do His.
Life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experience. (Soren Kierkegaard)
I will not define my life by my problems. I remind myself that struggle is part of life- not life itself.
I have confidence in the new direction I am taking. In the long run I trust that all will be well for me and mine. Today I pray for strength to choose a carefree life just like the little girl jumps up and down as if she does not have a care in the world.
Lord, when I place my confidence in the things of this earth, I am always disappointed. But when I put my confidence in you, I am secure. In every aspect of my life, father, let me place my hope and my trust in Your infinite wisdom and boundless Grace. Amen!
Bishop, the pictures you choose for today are BEAUTIFULL.
Thank you the word that will comes forth for CITN and for Me today.
Loves guess who…..
The Loss of Self continued...
Let me say a word about the connection between love and death. In the Thomistic philosophy to which the English author is so faithful, love is "ecstatic" in that it takes us out of ourselves to live in the thing we love. If we love money, we live in money; if we love our friends, we live in them; if we love them in God, we live in God. This means that in love there is a real death, as St.John of the Cross (again a thoroughgoing Thomist) expresses in his enigmatic words: "O life, how canst thou endure since thou livest not where thou livest?" is this because his life, no longer in his body, is palpitating in the one he loves? And he wonders how this life can continue. For death is an inevitable consequence of ecstatic love.
The dilemma is terrible. If man refuses to love, his separated self remains in its agonized isolation without ultimate fulfillment, even though ontologically God is in his being. If he loves, he chooses death for the separated self and life for the resurrected self. And it is the resurrected self that is at work in contemplation, which will never cease. "For in eternity there will be no need for the works of mercy as there is now. People will not hunger or thirst or die of the cold or be sick, homeless and captive. No one will need Christian burial for no one will die. In heaven it will no longer be fitting to mourn for our sins or for Christ's Passion. So, then, if grace is calling you to choose the third part, choose it with Mary."
A true measure of prosperity would be how long I would survive if I couldn't work.
This is my first blog here, have tried before but always got bogged down in how to do it and gave up. But when I woke up this morning and saw this scripture it was so inspiring that I decided I had to figure out how to blog.
I think this might be the most beautiful translation of this particular passage that I have ever read and the pictures are as timeless as the message. Thank you Bishop for always hearing the voice of the Spirit and putting it out here for us to be a part of. I really needed these words today.
May the Spirit of God bless you all today.
Sandi B
I saw my 6 year old son grow. The special thing about it was that he did it on a word. A word from me, his father. He is playing little league football for the first time and he was afraid to tackle. I guess he thought it may hurt so he got run over this first time the play came his way. He got up and looked over at me. I screamed to him,"Don't worry son, I got you the helment and pads to do this. Next time hit him!" He nodded and agreed. When the play came his way again, I heard this loud CLASH and saw my son lower his head and tackle with everything he had. The boy went down and the ball flew from the runners hand. His helment almost came off, but it didn't. My son got up and looked back at me for approval. I would have given it to him except I was jumping and shouting and giving the other dad's hi-five! That 6 year old boy took a word from me and followed through. He did not fail because he trusted his father.
Our Father has fully equipped us and all we need to do is follow His words. And when we do and find that it works, but it seems like God isn't giving us approval, maybe He's too busy jumping and shouting and giving the angels hi-five because we trusted and did not fail.
What a wonderful Wednseday!
Good word Machion, ourFather gave us a helmet and pads too. How soon we forget. Love today's pics, I can only imagine how much time it takes you Bishop to pick out this daily gift for us. And by ALL means welcome Sandi B-Love you bakoodles.
The pictures are again inspiring and I agree that they speak in image what is being said by the scripture choices.
I was spiritually reminded of a sweet memory logged when walking with God through a natural place filled with aromatic flora of various color at the mention of 'most have never been seen' in association with the wildflower picture.
It is sometimes difficult to articulate what a moment like that means to me internally so I will just say, Thanks Bish for the spiritual agreement that God has given nature wonderful ways to deliver the voice of love.
JB
Here's a part to a Howard Jones song that kinda goes along with today
LIFE IN ONE DAY
Howard Jones
The old man said to me
Said don't always take life so seriously
Play the flute
And dance and sing your song
Try and enjoy the here and now
The future will take care of
itself somehow
The grass is never greener over there
Enjoy Life
Living In the Moment
Getting from Here to There: When You Haven’t a Clue What to Do!
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits (like the Flying Birds, the first picture Bishop posted) in the presence of fate = (destiny, a fixed decree or a sentence, by which the order of things is prescribed) is strength undefeatable.
(Helen Keller)
Food For Thought:
Some of us hear our passion calling when we’re very young, but most of us do not because we’re too busy listening to what other people especially our parents, are telling us. So we embark on a vocational path, trying on different lives for size until we find one we can wear even if it doesn’t necessarily fit.
Perhaps you’re conflict about continue the journey you started in your life some times ago but have outgrown. You know you’re not heading in the direction you want to go, but at least your daily motions are familiar. And trust me familiar feels good & safe. In today’s uncertain world, feeling safe and secure seems the emotional definition of sanity. Perhaps you’re skilled in one occupation but not thrilled about using those skills anymore. Some other work does secretly thrill you. But the stakes seem too high. Perhaps you’re dismayed, even embarrassed, by the thought that you don’t know what GREAT WORK waits for you.
Now, not knowing what you want to do can be very discouraging. You want to go forward but find yourself standing still, overwhelmed by the options or the risks.
Well, that was me some times ago, until I started too meditated on the words of God. Specially this passage on Matthew 6:24-34. Because I did not know my potentials and my calling to the work of God, So, when I would read about these verses 26-27; THE GOOD NEWS BIBLE. Knowing those birds were not worry about anything specially their calling.They were free. Free from the world system, from other people telling them what to do or where, and when to fly. Their only concerned “every morning they only have one agenda on their minds, use the freedom skills God has given them to fly as high as they can reach to listen good,to the voice of God telling them where food’s going to be today!
Today let us,"like those birds flying high as we can to have the COURAGE TO ANSWER THE CALL".
As we do, we can gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face. We must do the thing we think we cannot do.
Of course we are going to have some dark moments, but in the darkness we’ll come to trust (like those birds) that a Power Greater than our own would never leave nor forsake us.
Make no mistake, when you decide to start on the path of you Calling, LOVE will change you, transforming your life in countless ways. Even your family and friends might not notice the changes in the beginning, because they’re so small. But you will, and you’ll know that miracles are taking place. Love will sustain you when your path takes unexpected twist and turns. Love will dissolve your fears by creating opportunities you couldn’t have imagined before you began the search to discover and recover the path of your calling. And when doubt, despair, and denial threaten to dismantle your dreams, Love will rear up in your defense. The next time you feel frightened and fragile, stand very still. If you do you might feel the tip of an angel’s wing brush against your shoulder.
YES! THIS IS A WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY! TAKE COURAGE ANSWER THE CALL OF GOD. BE THE “ONE” THAT STAND ON THE GAP!
Highdee Ho, Sandy-oh,
[goodness, where did THAT come from? That's embarassing.]
Oh well, it is what it is and welcome to the blog!!
I don't know if it was just me but something's changed in the atmosphere. I noticed it this morning. It feels huge, but I think its actually a small thing--like the transistor and the bc pill that Shirkey mentions were the major change agents in the last century [in his "Here Comes Everybody"]. The Hadron Collider worked today [google even honored it] but I think that's just a manifestation of whatever changed in the spiritual realm today.
So YES! Bishop, Wonderful Wednesday! Free, unfettered, we love you Lord, thank-you-for-Bishop's-picture-finding-anointing Wednesday!
That was really cool, Machion, to watch your child grow. Right before your very eyes. I think sometimes God takes others to different levels and percepts and glories in Him, but really they are for the body. There is a sister in the church who has a beautiful expression of worship and one day she said that people commented to her that they loved to watch her worship. She thought to herself, the worship is for "daddy" and no one else. I gently corrected her to tell her that her worship was for the entire world to see because it blesses us and teaches us when we see a true ministry gift.
Thank you Pr. Machion for your words of wisdom, and I to myself what a cool thought to see God giving a high - five! Jesus is way cool and we are an example of Him in the earth!
Well said!
SOZ/Cloud!
Here's an interesting intersection of thoughts--the timing of your post with Bishop's use of Matthew 6:26-34 answered a question I've had before God for an eon.
I'm not sure why, but every time I read that scrip, I would always think [discouragingly] "yeah, but the birds die". I get the point of the scripture yet always had this questioning thought.
So this morning, [this is hard to explain the depth, but I'll try] I'm enjoying the pics and the Message version and the freedom message. Then I read your post and its connection to my question came--death, "an inevitable consequence of ecstatic love". Impossible to explain the rest--but thanks! Only God could make all THAT timing work out.
You are soooo cool, God--and you did it on Wonderful Wednesday--an ITB day!!
loved the pics, especially the one with the wildflowers, that's really something that even if we spent housands of dollars on an outfit we would never look better than a field of wildflowers that are blooming. That is really something, plus when you think that most of these flowers are never even seen with the human eye. I guess God really means it when He says consider the lilies.
Machion, loved your story of your son, add to the fact that it was a football analogy and it couldn't get any better. We are already equipped with what we need, just do what we are told and don't worry about getting hurt,just dont' think to much and go ahead and do what He says, and it will work.
Let there be light
Speechless! Refreshing, wonderful, right on time word and pictures!
~Keep scattering His JOY!
Love to everybody!
Crown Jewel
"Those who keep speaking about the sun while walking under a cloudy sky are messengers of hope, the true saints of our day! Henri J. Nouwen
Bishop for President!
[IMG]http://i34.tinypic.com/5ck5g3.jpg[/IMG]
-Shannon
http://s383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/slchambe/?action=view¤t=August2008084.jpg
I am not sure how to correctly post a pic onto a blogpost but maybe you can copy/paste this link. ???
Hey Avatar,
I'm glad you got something out of that. True love for God does produce a death of sorts in our natural man. Does that principal come to its ultimate fulfillment when when actually do finish our time here on earth. The Word does say to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ. I believe contemplation offers us a chance to more fully experience that "death" now and be in His presence/love now.
Bishop,
Fantastic word tonight. Truly you are on the cusp of the revelation of Christ in this world, at this time. I pray in every encounter you have with your friends that the presence of the Spirit so richly envelopes you all that any need each soul has will be abundantly fulfilled. This contribution mentality in people's lives as opposed to a conversion mentality is really the way to be led by the Spirit to do greater things than we've even known.
"Next time someone tries to start something with you just ask them, Is Christ divided?"
That's Awesome!! HaHa!
And on a Cloud note again, just wait a few more days until I get to the place of Christ in this teaching. It is such an awesome confirmation and clarity to what you've been teaching Bishop. I just know its going to refresh and enrich our revelation. Its so wonderful. Love ya'll and Happy belated Anniversary and Birthday wishes to both Elle and Teezy, why don't you all just celebrate all week! ;)
I'm back home again and reading my last post, laughing to myself. I'm all pumped up and excited after hearing the word earlier. I was feeling and sounding like a little school-kid.
Is Christ Divided?
Wow
I felt like I got the point last week, but hearing those words now, in the context of Bishop's fellowship with others and CITNs calling. It really just opens up so much truth to the facts of the matter. It makes me think about the resurrection and our ability to live in that reality, and how that free gift is unto all men. How the light is rising, brighter as the day dawns, into every life; so much like the sunrises we've been sharing. Our gospel, so Christ-centric in it's creation, yet in its resurrected glory; revealing its grace, love, and mercy unto all creeds and creation. Freeing us to embrace fellowship with The Risen and the risen. Living in God, among and through our lives, and finding the risen Lord in those we meet.
That deserves a Praise God, Hallajuha, Glory to God, Amen!!!
My avatar picture is small but reads:
End Divided Road
Wonderful Wednesday
Wildly Cool
Started out not feeling good.
Went to the Mix
Now all is good.
Serve the Lord and you will see
All the blessings
He wants you to receive.
Kind of in a blogging mood right now.
So I hope we can all agree that no matter where we put our vote, it's no longer an us and them mentality we choose to live by. We see the good in each side, seeing both sides and loving and establishing fellowship with each other no matter where our vote should land.
Saying that, I found this clip a riot.
I believe God is going to do miracles through many new and different people and ways, in the now, and in the future. Someday the Chuck Grahams will rise!!
Chuck Graham is a Democrat politician currently representing the 19th Senate District in the Missouri General Assembly, which includes the city of Columbia, Missouri, where he lives. Graham has overcome many obstacles in his life and is doing great things in spite of also being paraplegic.
Yesterday Joe Biden had these words for Chuck.
youtube.com/watch?v=C2mzbuRgnI4
I also want to state for the record that this gaffe' had Chuck, "Rolling in the aisles".
O.K ya'll, I have to share this beautiful thing I just got from a friend via email:
www.thejoymovie.com
Enjoy! It seems to flow with the beautiful images we've received here lately...
ttfn
That was truly beautiful g8trgrl. Some amazing quotes and pictures, most of which I'd never seen. This is going in my favorites files.
Thank You
Post a Comment