"The Mind of God" (Version 3, November 26, 1999)
(November 30, 1999 6:12 AM CST)
On the evening of November 26
"At every opportunity pray in the Spirit,
I'm praying for you.
I was driving out to the airport
to see the new street lights
on both sides of Abbott Drive.
At 13th and Capitol Avenue someone going west
made a left turn to go south.
13th street is one-way going north,
so I honked at them and pointed north.
They got the message and turned around.
The lights are something to see.
If you live in the Omaha area, take a look some evening.
I just hope the airplanes don't get confused
and try to land on Abbott Drive.
using prayers and petitions of every sort.
Pray constantly and attentively
for all in the holy company."
Ephesians 6:18
I want you to pray, also.
Pray for all your brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Call on the Holy Spirit to teach you how to pray.
Ask the Lord for directions.
There is only one way.
Don't get lost in the dark.
Turn around if you are going the wrong way.
Search for the light.
See the light.
Jesus is the light of the world.
Stay awake.
Don't fall asleep.
Keep your focus on Christ.
Be attentive.
(November 29, 1999 6:10 AM CST)
Yesterday I took a 25 mile drive north
"Finally,
It is a battle.
of Omaha to
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge
.
I saw about 100,000 snow geese on the lake there.
Just after 4 PM they all got up and went for
a little flight around in circles above the lake.
Cool.
I also saw two eagles through a telescope.
I'll get the pictures developed and show you.
draw your strength from the Lord
and his mighty power.
Put on the armor of God
so that you may be able to stand firm
against the tactics of the devil.
Our battle is not against human forces
but against the principalities and powers,
the rulers of this world of darkness,
the evil spirits in regions above."
Ephesians 6:10-12
It is a struggle.
Who will win?
God wins.
And that's my "final" answer.
(from the TV program:
Who wants to be a millionaire?
)
If you believe in Jesus Christ, you win.
Who wants to be a loser?
In my story TMOG Sam collapses to the floor
but that should not happen to you.
I expect you to stand firm.
Be strong in the name of Jesus.
He is your strength.
Is that your final answer?
(November 28, 1999 6:02 AM CST)
(Update at 10:55 AM:
Someone wrote to me asking for prayer,
"Trust in the Lord and do good,
What is the desire of your heart?
For all of you that don't live in Omaha (almost everyone)
I made the newspaper.
They printed what I wrote to the Public Pulse
on page 22-A of the Omaha World-Herald today.
Amazing (it's maybe one of those Millenium Miracles)!
And it did not cost me anything.
They did change my words, but they did OK.
It's their newspaper.
Here is the
online version
.
(Probably only available for one day.)
Here is their edited text:
"Safety Invaluable
From: Dan Boeckman, Omaha
Cost of driving 21 mph over the speed
limit: $400. Cost of destroying your car:
$20,000. Cost of several weeks in the
hospital: $500,000. Cost of funeral:
$10,000 and 10,000 tears. Driving safely
and courteously and following traffic
laws: priceless.")
so please pray for them and their marriage.
Lord Jesus, we call on you for help.
Hear our prayers for this couple.
Restore their love, Lord.
that you may dwell in the land and enjoy security.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will grant you your heart's requests."
Psalms 37:3-4
What do you seek?
Do you want to learn more and more about God?
Do you want to have lots of money and be famous?
Do you want to fall in love with that special someone?
What is it that you want?
Seek the Lord Jesus today.
Keep your focus on him.
God has wonderful plans for you.
Trust him.
Our desires must be "in sync" with God's desires for us.
He knows what is best for you.
If you desire what God desires...
that is it!
Then you find security.
I took some pictures a week ago.
Here is a picture of the
church that I go to
.
I checked out the rose garden for 1999
and there was
one Artistry rose
(again).
It had frost on it.
It has been getting below freezing almost every day.
It is amazing that it is still blooming.
And finally a picture of
Parables
where I bought the Streams CD.
(November 27, 1999 6:18 AM CST)
TMOG keeps getting bigger and bigger.
"In the Lord we are confident that
The young people today say:
Maybe I'll have to print it in 3 parts
on the first 3 Sundays of year 2000.
I should also have a little ad in the
Chicago Tribune
to point people to the Internet.
you are doing and will continue
to do whatever we enjoin.
May the Lord rule your hearts
in the love of God
and the constancy of Christ."
2 Thessalonians 3:4-5
Pokemon
rules.
A sports fan would say:
Cubs
rule.
A Christian would say:
Jesus rules.
What rules your heart?
(November 26, 1999 6:05 AM CST)
Last night I was talking to Doris.
Jesus said,
Maybe someone close to you has died recently.
Her Mom (Alberta) went to be with the Lord
on Sunday, November 21st.
She went home to Jesus.
Pray for their family.
"This sickness is not to end in death;
rather it is for God's glory,
that through it the Son of God may be glorified."
John 11:4
Jesus is there to comfort you.
He is there to hold your hand.
He gives you a hug.
He cries with you.
Lean on him.
Rest in him.
He is our hope.
He transforms our life to eternal life.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
(November 25, 1999 6:11 AM CST)
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
"Rejoice always,
Thank the Lord today.
never cease praying,
render constant thanks;
such is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give him praise.
He is wonderful.
He is worthy of all our praise.
Lord, we thank you for
this food and family and friends.
You are so good to us.
You provide for our every need.
You have prepared a place for us.
Watch our every step.
Keep us safe from harm.
Bring us home to you.
Thanks for dying on the cross, Jesus.
Thanks for taking away our sin.
Thanks for new life every day.
Thanks for your love.
You are so good.
You are great.
We praise and thank you today.
Amen.
(November 24, 1999 5:48 AM CST)
Yesterday I was thinking about going to church
"May the God of peace make you perfect in holiness.
Walk with the Spirit.
to pray at lunchtime.
I don't usually do that,
but there is just a lot of people to pray for.
Then Joe stopped by and asked if I wanted to go to lunch,
so I had to debate in my mind
whether to pray or go to lunch.
I'm not sure why, but I decided to go to lunch with Joe
and he invited Ron who sits across the aisle.
Ron is an expert in grammar.
He helps me edit the articles for the newspaper
and since I'm writing something for the newspaper...
We went to this sandwich shop south of 17th and Farnam.
I ordered a sandwich and water and then I thought
Ron's birthday was November 22 (yesterday at the time).
I would buy him lunch for his birthday.
He was hesitant to let me pay for it and then I said
"Life is full of surprises."
Then he joked that he wanted to order everything on the menu.
After I paid for things the lady gave me the change and said,
"God bless you."
"God bless you, too" I replied.
Oh...wonderful...I was the one who was surprised.
Yes, God has blessed me.
This is what I call a confirmation in the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit confirms something.
It is true.
God has blessed me over and over.
The Spirit of God is full of surprises.
I shouldn't have even been there
according to my original plans,
but there I was.
Surprise!
The 3 of us then sat down and discussed TMOG.
May he preserve you whole and entire,
spirit, soul and body,
irreproachable at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He who calls us is trustworthy,
therefore he will do it."
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Be lead by the Spirit.
May your soul be made whole and complete.
May your body be used
for the building of the kingdom of God.
Be approachable.
Be a friend.
Be open to what God is calling you to do.
God bless you.
(November 23, 1999 5:45 AM CST)
I don't need an alarm clock anymore.
I also play one song off the Streams CD each morning.
"Gracious is the Lord and just;
The Lord has been good to me.
I wake up at about 4 AM
with all these ideas for TMOG.
I get out a piece of paper and start writing.
Should Sam die after the seven days are over?
"All great stories end in death," right?
I'm not sure. I'm thinking about it.
I'm looking at it. I'm debating it in my mind.
I could write a story with two endings and
have people on the internet vote for what they want.
Interesting!
#5 Hold On by
Michelle Tumes
.
"Hold on to my Father's hand"
she sings so beautifully.
Her music is such a blessing.
yes, our God is merciful.
The Lord keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your tranquillity,
for the Lord has been good to you.
For he has freed my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk before the Lord
in the lands of the living."
Psalms 116:5-9
Lately I have had so much joy in my heart
that I almost cry. (like now)
And on the other hand...
Yesterday morning I was talking to Bob.
He is retired from the company I work for.
I asked him what he was going to do for the day
and he said he was going to start by praying for an hour.
I told him to pray for Annette, her husband and children
who are going through a divorce.
He told me his wife has been sick.
She had surgery 3 weeks ago for colon cancer.
I asked what her name was...Claire.
I told him I would pray for Claire (who I've never met).
I didn't ask any questions,
but you wonder if she will die from this or not.
She is in a lot of pain.
The Lord is there in our pain...and in our joy.
Death --- if it comes --- is not to be feared.
The Lord Jesus frees our soul.
He can free your soul.
Pray for all these people.
Thanks.
There are so many people to pray for.
They are hurting and in need.
I put them all in God's hands.
Jesus be with them.
(November 22, 1999 6:08 AM CST)
There is so much to write about this morning.
I actually wrote the first paragraph of
I wrote something to the Public Pulse at our
"So strip away everything vicious,
The Lord continues to purify us.
"The Mind of God"
.
I figured out a possible ending.
It's like when you are watching a movie and
you're trying to figure out how it will end.
local newspaper.
They never print what I send them.
It would take a miracle.
I don't think they like me.
This guy was complaining about a $400 traffic ticket.
So I wrote back:
"Cost of Driving
From: Dan Boeckman, Omaha
Here is my response to Ernest Fitzgerald:
Cost of driving 21 MPH over speed limit: $400.
Cost of destroying your car: $20,000.
Cost of several weeks in the hospital: $500,000.
Cost of funeral: $10,000 and 10,000 tears.
Cost of driving safely, courteously and
following traffic laws: priceless."
everything deceitful;
pretenses,
jealousies,
and disparaging remarks of any kind.
Be as eager for milk as newborn babies ---
pure milk of the spirit
to make you grow unto salvation,
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."
1 Peter 2:1-3
He is changing us.
He is rebuilding us from the inside out.
Be open to the Spirit.
The Spirit will point out areas
you need to work on.
For the Lord is good.
He is a holy God.
We are to be holy.
(November 21, 1999 6:04 AM CST)
(Update at 6:35 PM.
I located some information on
"O Lord, you have been our refuge
God is there...
This afternoon I was trying to teach
Rachel
how to drive.
She will be 15 in January and can get a learner's permit.
The picture shows my car (1991 Camry) a few years ago.
The license plate was "STM555" and you can see that
bumper sticker "Spring Back to Life with Jesus."
Why STM555? Good question. Many people asked me.
I don't have that license plate anymore
which cost $35 per year.
We were driving around Aksarben at 63 and Center.
It has a big empty parking lot and
many people go there to practice driving.
After we were done I was all stressed out.
I think it is because I did not have a brake peddle
on my side of the car.
A car is a very scary thing in the hands of a
reckless driver.
We also saw Sue out taking her dog for a walk.
I told her to be ready to dive for cover
in case we got anywhere near her.
Sue was in a Bible Study I attended a few years ago.
Small world.)
where Trout Lake is
.
It is on Hwy 145 12 miles south of
Telluride, Colorado
.
The ski area opens on November 23rd.
I'm trying to think of the last time I went skiing.
I went to
Loveland, Colorado
with Cousin Ron, Cousin Sam
and Lynette from Denver that I used to work with.
As a joke, Ron and Sam took me up on chair #4
and the snow was really deep.
I'm not that great of a skier,
so it took me a long time to get down.
That was a few years ago (wrong...
it was Friday, April 5, 1991).
I'll have to
dig out those pictures
.
I'm the "dork" on the left.
Is that green bright enough for you?
through all generations.
Before the mountains were begotten
and the earth and the world were brought forth,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God."
Psalms 90:1-2
just like those Rocky Mountains.
He has been there a long time.
Everlasting is our God.
You can depend on him.
He is there when you get in too deep.
He is here to stay.
He is immense.
He is big.
And yet he cares about you.
He thinks about you.
You are special to him.
He is there.
You can see how beautiful the mountains are...
You can see the hand of God...
He is there for you.
Go climb a mountain.
(November 20, 1999 6:04 AM CST)
(Update at 2:33 PM
Yesterday I was talking to my friend Diane at work.
"Strip away all that is filthy,
Don't deceive yourself.
Here is a picture that I see each morning
on my kitchen table.
It is
Trout Lake
somewhere in Colorado.
Isn't it beautiful?
It is copyrighted by Art Hansen.
Give credit where credit is due.)
She is a "stairway" person.
I met her on the stairway one day a few years ago.
She was reading a Christian book.
She's always reading.
I usually walk the steps in my office building
from 5th floor to 10 once an hour.
She walks from 1st floor to 12 (way too far for me).
She does not have a home PC,
so I printed out what I've written so far for November.
It was 7 pages double-sided.
Have I been writing that much?
I love to write and she loves to read.
I showed her the picture of that rose from 3 years ago.
She remembered it.
She does not like the Internet because of all the trash.
True...it is there...all that evil stuff.
I hope and pray you stay away from it.
It will destroy you.
every vicious excess.
Humbly welcome the word
that has taken root in you,
with its power to save you.
Act on this word.
If all you do is listen to it,
you are deceiving yourselves."
James 1:21-22
You know what is right.
God does not want you viewing those evil images.
Stay away from those things.
If you have an addiction,
I think you need to cancel your Internet access.
What?
Give up surfing?
This is live or death.
I am serious.
It will keep you from God.
This will block your access to God.
You will not grow in the Spirit.
You will not hear the word of God.
You need help.
Confess your sins.
Jesus will forgive you and heal you.
Call on the Holy Spirit.
Go to your pastor or Christian counselor and get help.
God wants you to be holy.
He wants you to act on his word.
Let the word of God take root in you.
He wants to give you new life.
(November 19, 1999 5:54 AM CST)
There is a phrase that comes to mind this morning:
Jesus said,
Jesus wept over Jerusalem.
"millennium miracles"...
instead of millennium madness.
Expect great blessings in the months to come.
"They will wipe you out,
you and your children within your walls,
and leave not a stone on a stone within you,
because you failed to recognize
the time of your visitation."
Luke 19:44
He tried to reach them.
He preached his message of love
and many did not recognize him.
Some did recognize him.
They ran to him.
They needed to touch him.
Time.
You can't hold onto it.
You can't grab it with your hands.
Jesus visits you today.
Now.
He makes himself known to you.
He comes to see you.
This is the time of visitation.
Will you welcome him?
Will you reject him?
Will you run to him?
What will you do?
(November 18, 1999 6:04 AM CST)
(Update at 7:13 PM...
Yesterday I had lunch with Joe.
"We exhort you to admonish the unruly;
Hey, if you see someone hurting, help them.
Did I ever show you the picture of
the last rose
in the Boys Town rose garden?
I wrote about it on
November 5, 1996
.
The picture was taken on Sunday, November 3, 1996.)
We both work together.
I refer to him as "Mister Know-It-All #2."
(Guess who's #1. We won the trivia contest
at Guitars and Cadillacs about 5 years ago...over $400.
Arnie was on our team also.)
(Update: it was $450 on Thursday, June 10, 1993.)
Anyway, I was telling him about
that thing I'm writing called "The Mind of God."
I usually bounce ideas off of people
to see what they think.
He came up with the Kennedy being killed crime scene
without me saying anything.
Interesting.
cheer the fainthearted;
support the weak;
be patient toward all.
See that no one returns evil to any other;
always seek one another's good and,
for that matter,
the good of all."
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
I think that is obvious.
I hope and pray that you do this.
Stop what you are doing and help.
God calls you to do it.
He expects you to do it.
Seek the good of all.
The amazing thing is that things get flipped.
You think you are helping them
and it turns out they are helping you.
We are so thoughtless and selfish sometimes.
We don't know it all.
We have so much to learn.
It is a very strange team effort.
Who is helping whom?
(November 17, 1999 6:08 AM CST)
Last night I went over to Parables which
"The desert and the parched land will exult
The day before yesterday
is a few blocks southeast of 114th and Dodge.
I bought the CD
Streams
.
It has that song I mentioned a few days ago
"I will rest in you."
If you click on this link,
you can hear a sample of it.
A friend wrote and told me about this.
Thanks.
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song."
Isaiah 35:1-2
as I was coming back from lunch
I saw a large vase of flowers on the table
as I entered my office building where I work downtown.
I usually stop and see who the flowers are for.
I'm kind of snoopy.
The name was Vickie somebody or other.
I didn't know her,
but someone else sure knew who she was.
Today God sends you some flowers.
He's sending you the biggest bouquet you've ever seen.
He knows you inside out and upside down.
He loves you.
He is crazy about you.
He wants to be with you forever.
How do you respond?
What do you have to say?
Well, tell him.
(November 16, 1999 6:16 AM CST)
On Saturday I recorded 18 hours of
TLC
.
"Keep careful watch over your conduct.
Watch it.
They had the "Understanding Festival".
Excellent programs for all ages.
I was trying to edit the programs
with my 2 VCRs.
I had the wires all connected right,
but it would not record from one tape to the other.
I fought it 3 or 4 times and got very frustrated.
Why didn't it work?
So when all else fails...
I read the instruction book.
I had to set the recording VCR to "L-1"
and then it worked.
Do not act like fools, but like thoughtful men.
Make the most of the present opportunity,
for these are evil days.
Do not continue in ignorance,
but try to discern the will of the Lord."
Ephesians 5:15-16
Be careful.
People are watching you.
Are you setting a good example?
Do you get mad and take the name of Lord in vain?
That's not right.
Others are watching.
Do you drink too much?
Change your life.
Whatever it is...
do the right thing.
Avoid evil.
Read the instruction book (the Bible).
Get it out.
Sit down and study it.
It will save you lots of frustration in life.
It will save you time.
It will change your life.
Do the will of God.
(November 15, 1999 5:43 AM CST)
Yesterday I took a little trip 50 miles
"As the hind longs for the running waters,
Maybe you are like that little lake in Lincoln.
southwest along Interstate 80 to
Lincoln, Nebraska.
I drove along at 60 MPH (1 mile per minute).
The speed limit is 75 MPH.
Everybody passed me.
I wanted them to see my bumper sticker:
"Spring Back to Life with Jesus".
(If you want one, send a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope)
to "Spring To Life, P.O. Box 991, Omaha, NE 68101-0991 USA".
I think I still have a thousand in my basement.)
Anyway, I met Mike and Joe.
I know Mike from went I went to school at
UNL
.
Joe I've never met before.
I did not recognize Mike.
I had to ask someone as I was leaving if that was him.
Just to be sure.
It has been that long.
They are the pastor and asst. pastor at
Blessed Sacrament church on 17th and Lake.
Why was I there?
50 some miles out of my way...
Maybe it was to see two people
who have given their lives to the Lord
and who are building the Kingdom of God.
God wanted to honor them, maybe.
They are touching people's lives.
They are spreading the Good News.
God bless them.
If you go a few blocks west of the church,
you can see a lake or rather the outline of a lake.
There is no water in it.
Lincoln is having a drought just like Omaha.
It has not rained for over 70 days.
Before church I had some time to kill,
so I went for a walk at the Gateway Mall.
Some nice lady was waiting for someone
to let them in at a door.
I asked if I could walk inside and she let me in.
I used to be a janitor at the Mall many years ago.
It was interesting to walk around it.
I was about the only person in the place.
It has changed a lot as you can imagine.
As I was leaving some man was painting the door
where I had come in.
Interesting.
I knew without a doubt God wanted me to go to Lincoln.
Maybe it was for that lady that let me in
or the guy painting the door.
They both could see the bumper sticker on my car.
Pray for them.
How did I know that Mike and Joe were at that church?
It's a long story...
so my soul longs for you, O God.
Athirst is my soul for God, the living God."
Psalms 42:1-3
The water is all gone.
You are empty.
You are lifeless.
You are thirsty.
Jesus is there.
He will satisfy you.
He is the living waters.
He is life.
(Maybe that's why I went to Lincoln...
to see that lake
and tell you about it.)
(November 14, 1999 6:26 AM CST)
I feel lighter.
Speaking of prayer...
Jesus said,
Are you waiting for Elijah to come?
If I had to move from my house,
there is less to move now.
I gave away the 3 chairs in my front room.
The family of the Adopt-A-Family came by yesterday
and took them away.
They needed furniture.
What can I say?
I didn't need it as much as them.
I can see the beautiful tan carpet again.
And there is more room.
I could set up a ping-pong table now.
I used to play ping-pong every day after school
when I was a kid.
What if I have company?
I have a few kitchen chairs they can sit on.
I must be crazy,
like that song by
Britney Spears
.
"Crazy and it feels so good..."
(Update. The words of the song are:
"Crazy but it feels alright..."
Well, I was close.
See I don't listen to Britney much.)
What a line.
How can I write about Britney?
This is a Christian Web site, right?
I am losing it.
You all better pray for me.
Lena called yesterday.
She is desperate.
Her husband has
prostrate cancer
and her son is going to the doctors
but they can't figure out what is wrong.
So pray for Lena and John Sr. and John Jr..
Lord, they need you.
Be with them today.
It is too much to handle.
"Elijah will indeed come first and restore everything.
Yet why does Scripture say of the Son of Man
that he must suffer much and be despised?
Let me assure you,
Elijah has already come.
They did entirely as the pleased with him,
as the Scriptures say of him."
Mark 9:12-13
Why?
Jesus said he already came.
He was John the Baptist.
Right?
John was a great prophet.
They killed him.
I have to admit,
if Elijah would come, it would be cool.
I mean, it could happen.
It is possible.
Elijah is with the Lord.
The Lord can do whatever he wants.
The Lord can send him back, if he wants.
The Lord does not have to send Elijah,
why?
Because he has you.
You are here.
You are better than Elijah.
People will listen to you.
You are real.
You know the culture.
You personally know these people.
You are a witness in 1999 and many the years to come.
You live side by side with many people.
You touch their lives.
Tell them what you know.
Tell them about life.
Tell them about Jesus.
Be a prophet.
(November 13, 1999 6:13 AM CST)
"My God in turn will supply your needs fully,
The question is:
in a way worthy of his magnificent riches
in Christ Jesus.
All glory to our God and Father
for unending ages!
Amen."
Philippians 4:19-20
What do you really need?
What is necessary?
What do you need to survive?
All the rest are extras.
Extras.
All that stuff you have.
You need food and clothes and a place to stay.
Can you survive with that?
Can you live a simple life?
Jesus didn't even have a place to stay, so there!
Think about what you need when you go on vacation
to a different city.
What do you take with you?
What do you need?
In my opinion,
the less things you have, the happier you are.
I could be wrong.
I'm just a computer programmer here in Omaha.
How about this...
give some things away and see how you feel.
It is a freeing experience.
It is a cool feeling.
This is a test.
This is only a test.
This is your life.
Hello?
Are you really alive?
Get the stuff out of the way and meet Jesus.
He is the lover of your soul.
What I'm trying to say is somewhere in the
Jaci Velasquez
song
"I will rest in you."
It's there between the words and notes.
The music of God's heart.
You have to be quiet.
Listen.
What do you hear?
(November 12, 1999 6:13 AM CST)
Jesus said,
It is right there.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Have faith in God
and faith in me."
John 14:1
Jesus said it.
Do not be troubled.
Do not worry.
Have faith in him.
Trust him.
He is watching over you.
He cares about you.
He loves you.
He will give you the strength you need.
Have faith in Jesus Christ.
He is all that you need.
Lord, increase our faith.
(I did find a large sycamore leaf on Sunday
near 40th and California.
For me it was like going back in time.
I used to go to school near there
when I was a kid.)
(November 11, 1999 6:13 AM CST)
"We know that God makes all things work together
God calls you.
for the good of those who love God
and are called according to his decree."
Romans 8:28
He calls you to a life of holiness.
Will you follow him?
In following him all things fall into place.
There is a way that seems right.
He can use the good that you do and magnify it.
He can even take the bad things
and flip them for his glory.
At work we have a Christmas project called
Adopt-A-Family and one person is in charge
of organizing it. We are helping out a mother
that is unemployed with 3 children.
One person stepped forward to help this family
and others have joined in to buy some much needed items.
This one person could not do it alone.
It takes teamwork.
I believe it is the Holy Spirit that brings
people together to help (if we are listening).
Step forward.
God will magnify your effort.
(November 10, 1999 6:10 AM CST)
Pray for Judi today.
"When I behold your heavens,
If you live in the city,
She is having surgery.
She sits next to me at work.
Thanks.
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars
which you set in place ---
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?"
Psalms 8:4-5
you need to take a drive out
into the country and
see all the
stars at night
.
See the
moon
.
The lights of the city block our view.
People 100 years ago did not have this problem.
Gaze at the majesty of God.
See how awesome he is.
It's as if you can see
the twinkle in God's eye.
He is mindful of you.
He does care for you.
If he can make all that,
he has time for you.
He watches over you.
He never sleeps nor gets tired.
He is awesome.
(November 9, 1999 6:05 AM CST)
Maybe you saw this in the newspaper.
There is a phrase that plays
It is a joint Catholic/Lutheran statement.
"Together, we confess:
By grace alone,
in faith in Christ's saving work
and not because of any merit on our part,
we are accepted by God and
receive the Holy Spirit,
who renews our hearts
while equipping and calling us to good works."
To me it is a sign.
It is an apocalyptic event.
Jesus Christ is bringing us together.
It is one of my
dreams
for Christian unity.
May we all be one.
over and over in my mind:
"After all is said and done ---
what really matters?"
At the end of your life
what says that you succeeded,
that you made it,
that you did well?
Did I make it to heaven or not?
Did I achieve my goal?
It was playing over and over,
so I'm just relaying the message.
Maybe the message is for you.
(November 8, 1999 6:15 AM CST)
We are getting ready for a record high
Microsoft
is all over the news this morning.
"For the Lord hears the poor..."
If you own a PC, you are probably not poor.
today in Omaha.
(Update: It got up to 82 F (27 C) degrees.
The highest temperature ever for November.)
Yesterday was beautiful with all the
sunshine and brightly colored trees.
There is no rain in sight.
How low can it go?
Psalms 69:34
If you pay $20 a month to be able
to surf the Internet, you are probably not poor.
Bill Gates
will probably lose a few billion
dollars today on paper. He's not poor...
or is he?
What does it mean to be poor?
Money is to be used to build the kingdom of God.
It is to be used to help those in need.
It is not to possess you.
You are to be detached from it.
Use it for good.
Be poor.
Try it.
God will then hear your prayer.
(November 7, 1999 6:37 AM CST)
"Everything written before our time
It was written for you.
Could you pray for the daughter of someone
was written for our instruction,
that we might derive hope
from the lessons of patience
and the words of encouragement
in the Scriptures.
May God,
the source of all patience and encouragement,
enable you to live in perfect harmony
with one another
according to the spirit of Christ Jesus,
so that with one heart and voice
you may glorify God,
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 15:4-6
It was written to give you patience.
God gives you encouragement.
Read his "love letter" to you.
He loves you very much.
He wants you to excel.
He calls you to greatness.
He calls you to do wonderful things.
Be encouraged.
Be great.
Hear the harmony.
Hear the heartbeat of God.
Hear his voice.
I work with?
She is talking about suicide.
And when someone talks about suicide
you need to take them seriously.
Get them help.
(November 6, 1999 6:24 AM CST)
Well, I've been writing this morning.
"As high as the heavens are above the earth,
What if...
I have two pages of notes so far.
I have a new idea for a fictional story
to put in the newspaper.
It is titled: "The Mind of God".
It is amazing what happens when you
ask a few people to pray for you.
Thanks!
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:9
you could somehow link into
the mind of God ---
if you could see what he sees
and hear what he hears
and feel
and touch
and smell
and hear thoughts of people.
Interesting.
It is too bizarre.
Could you see the future?
We know that God sees all things.
He sees the future,
but I doubt he would let you see it, right?
No or yes?
No --- God would not let you see the future.
Would he let you see what is happening
all over the world right now?
Maybe.
That might be allowed.
You could see events as they happen.
You would see it perfectly from
ever possible angle.
Could you see events from the past?
Maybe, again.
I'm not sure.
It sure would make it easy to solve crimes.
You would know the truth about the past.
What really did happen?
Like the day that
JFK was killed
---
who did it?
Maybe.
God might allow you to see the past,
but for sure you could not change the past.
You would just be a spectator.
(November 5, 1999 5:55 AM CST)
Today is trash day in my neighborhood.
"That night the Lord appeared
Have courage.
Could you pray for me?
God bless these people and the service
that they provide.
It is a thankless job.
God bless them and their families.
at Paul's side and said:
'Keep up your courage!'"
Acts 23:11
Be strong.
The Lord is right by your side.
What are you worried about?
He is there.
He is with you.
You will win.
You will achieve heaven.
Bring some others along with you.
Show them the true road to happiness.
I've been thinking about having an advertisement
in our newspaper (Omaha World-Herald).
After all the year 2000 is approaching fast.
What does God want to say to the people
in and around Omaha as 2000 is upon us?
I want this to be from God and not from me.
I need to know the will of God.
Thank you very much.
And I'm praying for you every day.
I call you all the "Spring To Life family".
God bless you.
One day we will all meet each other in heaven.
(November 4, 1999 6:07 AM CST)
I was just listening to the radio
The battle goes on...
(KGBI 100.7 FM)
and they were talking about
things that we say and what God
has to say.
We say that we are all alone,
but God says:
"I will never leave you,
nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6
and
Hebrews 13:5
I'm still fighting the leaves and
there are still thousands on the trees
in my yard.
It was a cloud of dust as I attacked them
yesterday evening with the lawn mower.
We have not received any rain in
Omaha
in over a month.
The lawn mower quit after a while
from all the dust.
It has never done that before.
Nebraska is becoming a dust bowl.
I was sneezing and choking from it.
But I will win.
I will not give up the fight.
(Sounds like something from the Bible.
Doesn't it?)
My jeans were saturated with the dust.
Maybe the "dust" of this world is attacking you.
It is all over you.
It is choking you.
It is stopping you.
This is sin.
It will harm you.
It will try to destroy you.
Fight it.
Push back. (That's the new saying now.)
Call on the name of Jesus
to help you.
Fight those temptations.
Be strong.
You will win.
(November 3, 1999 6:07 AM CST)
Happy Birthday #12 Jacob!
What does it mean to be a "normal" Christian?
"I trust in the Lord;
You trust the Lord.
God bless you today.
I think that you should get up every morning
with joy in your heart.
You should be happy.
You should be glad to be alive.
You look forward to each day.
What does God want me to do today?
Who can I help today?
Thank you, Jesus, for another day.
You think of others.
You have a smile on your face.
You are a friendly person.
You say 'Hi' to people and you know their name ---
'Hi, Rachel' or 'Hi, Jacob'...
You pray to God for yourself and
family and friends.
You read something out of the Bible.
You think about what it said.
You have a quiet time to think about God
and let him love you.
You say: 'Jesus, I love you.'
Sometimes you fast:
like you could skip lunch today
or not eat between meals
or you could give up TV for an evening.
Sometimes you visit people in a nursing home
or hospital.
You call on the Holy Spirit for guidance.
You call out to Jesus for help.
You look for opportunities to share your faith.
You look forward to heaven ---
to be with Jesus forever.
my soul trusts in his word."
Psalms 130:5
He is everything to you.
(November 2, 1999 6:11 AM CST)
Jesus said,
Do you know it all?
"To what shall I compare the reign of God?
It is like
yeast
which a woman took to knead
into three measures of flour
until the whole mass of dough began to rise."
Luke 13:20-21
Do you have God all figured out?
God is at work today.
I hear people talking about "John 3:16" at work.
They have seen the signs on the TV
at sports events.
As the years have gone on,
they learned that verse from the Bible.
At first they did not know it.
God is at work building his kingdom.
He will not fail.
It will continue to grow and grow.
You see the evil on TV every day.
Yes, there are many killings.
There is much hate in the world.
But God is there.
He brings the good from the evil.
The kingdom of God is growing.
Does it surprise you?
Do you believe it?
Be surprised.
(November 1, 1999 6:11 AM CST)
"Day and night, without pause, they sing:
We are to pray always.
Yesterday I took a ride out into the country
'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
He who was, and who is, and who is to come!'"
Revelation 4:8
We are to thank God.
We bless the Lord.
We are to be saints.
We praise the Lord today.
He is holy.
We are to be holy.
Jesus is the King.
He is to be praised.
Pray today.
Pray every day.
Holy is the Lord.
up and down the gravel roads southeast
of Council Bluffs, Iowa.
I had a hand-written map
and it took me right to the house
of someone I work with.
It is different living away from the city.
You wonder about the snowdrifts in the winter ---
how high are they going to be?
If you had an emergency at your house,
it would take a long time for help to come.
Lots of questions.
The Bible is your map.
It is scary to move to new surroundings,
but you need to move on.
Jesus is your guide.
Don't be afraid.
He will lead you to a new land
and show you new things.
He is there.
Follow the map.
It will bring you home.
