Sunday, September 27, 2009

A Mile Wide...: WEEKLY THOUGHTS...

A Mile Wide...: WEEKLY THOUGHTS...

www.activerain.com/alanmaz

WEEKLY THOUGHTS...

Sept. 29


HE KNOWS ME...
One of the biggest steps in my young christian life was moving from God loves the world and others to a understanding that God loves me personally and knows me.
It was always easier to see how God could love someone else. At times I did not even love myself, so how could an awesome Holy, Powerful God love me. Besides isn't he busy with a vast universe. I am only a spec in that universe, surely He would not even miss me if I were gone.
How wrong I was! God did know me and He had singled me out as uniquely important as He has with us all.
"You have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit down and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways, before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.
Psalm 139:1-4
As I opened to God in my daily life, He revealed how much he loved me and how well he knew me. I am not just another number to God.
There is a beautiful passage in Isaiah 49:16 that reads "See I have engraved you in the palm of my hands" That passage looked forward to the cross where Jesus' hands were permanently engraved with nails as he was put on a cross. That scar bears my name so to speak. It was for me that he went to the cross. I am engraved int he palms of his hands.
Knowing this changes the way we live. It is to higher purpose than survival we are called. We have been created and uniquely designed by God to fulfill His purpose upon the earth. In even the smallest ways of our daily lives we impact the present and prepare the future.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

WEEKLY THOUGHTS...


Each of us asks these questions at times:

Am I really important in the grand scheme of God's design? Are the little details of my everyday life important to him? Is there purpose for my life beyond what I am currently living? How can I discover my purpose in life?

This past week I was hit square in the face with some of these questions. Since Michele and I left full time ministry in 2007 we have questioned at times: are we really where God wants us right now? We believed we heard from God when we moved here.
It has been a really great move for all of us especially our younger children (who are now in high school). We have been blessed with some great friendships, we love the schools here, we enjoy our community. Yet, there is still a calling to purpose on our lives that we have not been living out in a large way.

The result of prayer and time with God gave birth to a Bible Study that we are hosting in our home each Sunday night at 7pm. 1319 Ridgefield loop Round Rock (Teravista)

I have found that my life makes the most sense when I am in my purpose. Getting Amanda Ready for college next year, we have looked over the various degree plans. There is so much she can do, but what was she created to do and be? That question requires that we spend time with God in prayer and examining his words to us: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you. (Jeremiah 1:5)
I have reminded her of that passage as we have examined her gifts and desires for clues to who God created her to be and what He wants her to do. Examining our talents, gifts and desires is a good beginning point. God made you and I unique. He also equipped us for the purpose to which we are called.. "for we are God's workmanship, which God prepared in advance for us to do". (Eph. 2:10)
Your design is divinely inspired! Everything you need to succeed is in you by design. Putting God first is the key. As we let him lead us we will move from doing a job to fulfilling a purpose.
Take time to thank God for your design today. See you Sunday.

Alan and Michele