Steven Gibbshttp://stevengibbs.typepad.com/steven_gibbs/Embracing the mysteryenMon, 15 Mar 2010 12:02:49 PDTTypePad http://www.typepad.com/God,ChoicesnoGod,ChoicesAt your worst, your best is only one choice away.At your worst, your best is only one choice away.StevenGibbshttp://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesUnclutteredhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StevenGibbs/~3/0T_t-ZVFUHs/uncluttered.htmlSteven GibbsMon, 15 Mar 2010 12:02:49 PDTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8a2d53ef0120a93c5262970bI'm reading through the book of John, and have camped out in the story of John the Baptizer.  One thing about that dude, his life was uncluttered by anything that would keep him from fulfilling his purpose.  He didn't care what people thought about him, or how comfortable he lived.  He had one passion - to prepare the way of the Lord.

We need to prepare the way for the Lord in our own lives by removing the clutter.  You got any clutter in your way?  I do.  But I'm not satisfied with keeping it. 

]]>I'm reading through the book of John, and have camped out in the story of John the Baptizer. One thing about that dude, his life was uncluttered by anything that would keep him from fulfilling his purpose. He didn't care...http://stevengibbs.typepad.com/steven_gibbs/2010/03/uncluttered.htmlCool Quotehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StevenGibbs/~3/JDVUCOi13uw/cool-quote.htmlSteven GibbsThu, 04 Mar 2010 13:05:31 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8a2d53ef0120a8a2bcc8970bIf what we choose to do with our lives would not make a story meaningful, it won't make a life meaningful either.  Donald Miller, xiii, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

I'm all about the sovereignty of God.  But if I don't live with faith, my story is boring. Tiresome.  Boring, that is, in the sense that it doesn't acccomplish God's purpose.  How's your story, i.e. life?

]]>If what we choose to do with our lives would not make a story meaningful, it won't make a life meaningful either. Donald Miller, xiii, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years I'm all about the sovereignty of God. But...http://stevengibbs.typepad.com/steven_gibbs/2010/03/cool-quote.htmlSmudge or Watermarkhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StevenGibbs/~3/9Xn_qL8FyfI/smudge-or-watermark.htmlDevotionalSteven GibbsThu, 04 Mar 2010 12:48:57 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8a2d53ef01310f62d1fe970cThe question isn't "Will I make a mark in this world?"  The real question is, "What kind of mark will I make?"

We can leave a smudge.  You probably have those in your house, don't you?  It's gone with just a pump spray and wipe.  That's not exactly the way I would want my life to play out.

We can also leave a watermark.  This is a mark that reveals authenticity and excellence.  A mark that is revealed only when the light shines on it.  That's how we were designed. 

What is revealed when the light shines in you life?

]]>The question isn't "Will I make a mark in this world?" The real question is, "What kind of mark will I make?" We can leave a smudge. You probably have those in your house, don't you? It's gone with just...http://stevengibbs.typepad.com/steven_gibbs/2010/03/smudge-or-watermark.htmlRe-Readhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StevenGibbs/~3/95xwg7BYNFE/reread.htmlSteven GibbsWed, 24 Feb 2010 13:07:19 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8a2d53ef01310f362c3e970cCharles Spurgeon, in his Lectures To My Students, notes that "little learning and much pride come of hasty reading." 

He goes on to note that one should read and re-read the books you have, until you have mastered them.  One book thoroughly mastered is better than twenty books merely skimmed. 

Sometimes I tell someone about a great book, and I can't even remember what I learned from it, just some general thoughts.  Was it really good, or am I really dumb?  

Granted, we should read more than 1 book, and we shouldn't expect to remember everything we read.  But we should master something - starting with the Bible.  Re-reading brings life.

If you've seen The Book of Eli, you get a new appreciation for regular Bible reading.  I'm contemplating reading the same book of the Bible for a year, to try and bring more understanding of just a small bit of life.  At least then I'll remember what I haven't mastered.

]]>Charles Spurgeon, in his Lectures To My Students, notes that "little learning and much pride come of hasty reading." He goes on to note that one should read and re-read the books you have, until you have mastered them. One...http://stevengibbs.typepad.com/steven_gibbs/2010/02/reread.htmlJohn Updatehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StevenGibbs/~3/bvIfKTD97fw/john-up.htmlSteven GibbsFri, 19 Feb 2010 12:13:26 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8a2d53ef01310f1ec5bf970cJust rolled in from Cincinnati from John's surgery.  Things went well, nothing had changed.  The doctor's still aren't quite sure how everything works, but it does.  Looks like we may not have to go back for 2 years.  That is awesome.  It's hard to believe we've been making the trip for 2.5 years.  Cincinnati has been very, very good to us...

Thanks for praying.

]]>Just rolled in from Cincinnati from John's surgery. Things went well, nothing had changed. The doctor's still aren't quite sure how everything works, but it does. Looks like we may not have to go back for 2 years. That is...http://stevengibbs.typepad.com/steven_gibbs/2010/02/john-up.htmlJohn Updatehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StevenGibbs/~3/nZ3PKrl9RHI/john-update.htmlSteven GibbsTue, 16 Feb 2010 18:33:20 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8a2d53ef0120a8a969fb970bWe head out on Wednesday, February 17 to Cincinnati for John's annual check up.  They'll perform a scope to check out his larynx, as well as a lung wash to check out what's happening down there.  This will all happen on Thursday.  We'd appreciate your prayers.  

If you're not up to speed on what's happening with John, here's a quick link to the initial issues.  

]]>We head out on Wednesday, February 17 to Cincinnati for John's annual check up. They'll perform a scope to check out his larynx, as well as a lung wash to check out what's happening down there. This will all happen...http://stevengibbs.typepad.com/steven_gibbs/2010/02/john-update.htmlPurityhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StevenGibbs/~3/h3xtWewe64M/purity.htmlSteven GibbsTue, 09 Feb 2010 13:46:16 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8a2d53ef01287781eae3970c

I want to live life with purity. 

I don’t mean sinless.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to sin. As we all know, stupid hurts.  But purity can be mistaken to mean free from doing anything wrong – which is way too much effort at the wrong thing.  That is defensive living.

By purity, I mean purity of life.  This leads to power of effect. 

Purity leads to potency.

Negatively, pure heroin is more potent than something that is diluted.  

Positively, pure sugar is...well, bad example.  Think laser beam.  Think ruthless.

If my life is lived with purity of focus, it will be much more potent.  Hopefully it will help me follow God whole-heartedly.

Jesus life was a life of purity, completely sold out to doing the will of his Father.  

How about you?

 
]]>I want to live life with purity. I don’t mean sinless. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to sin. As we all know, stupid hurts. But purity can be mistaken to mean free from doing anything wrong – which...http://stevengibbs.typepad.com/steven_gibbs/2010/02/purity.htmlnonadult