Welcome to my randomized study & miscellaneous thoughts about the Awesome God of the universe, who He is and what He wants us to be.

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Verse of the Day

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Today's Quote

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Some Miscellaneous Thoughts

I went up to the mountains around Prescott, AZ this past weekend to attend our church's Men's Retreat. While there, we were treated to some wonderful winter weather - they called it "snow" - that is very rare down here in Phoenix. Fun to see grown men having snowball fights! Anyway, I had a great time and some good rest and closer talks with the Lord. Some items that I came away thinking about after the weekend was over:

Time Alone With God
I read a great book "How To Develop A Powerful Prayer Life" by Dr. Gregory Frizzell while on the retreat. It caused me to reevaluate my prayer life both in terms of time and essence. I wonder how many of our prayers are unfulfilled due to our own unspecific prayers to God or due to unconfessed sin in our lives? Do we just throw up the typical, "Lord forgive me of anything that I may have done that is a sin." Or do we carefully examine ourselves thoroughly while asking God to direct our thoughts toward our sinful attitudes, actions or thoughts? I do know that when I gave ample time for this introspective search, God was loving and pointed out a number of items that I may have glossed over in the past. I pray that You would create in me a clean heart God and place the hunger to know You more intimately and earnestly follow Your Way.

War, (huuah) What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing, Say It Again
I also spent some time reading through some Old Testament accounts of wars, battles, etc. and meditating upon the impending (?) war - at least the current "conflict" - between the U.S. and Iraq - with our without the UK, Aussies, Canada, et. al. or UN approval. Maybe I'm just getting older, but I think that my attitude regarding the potential war may have shifted over the weekend. I am by no means what one would consider a pacifist. Actually, I attended the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985. But it appears to me to be a conflict that will never cease! It's older than Cain and Abel, more like God and Lucifer. And I don't see any "winner" coming out of this war...while I do see potential losers if long-range weapons of mass destruction are being stockpiled by Iraq. Anyway, this wasn't in any way meant to "convert" anyone because I myself am more confused than converted! :-) The US is not a theocracy like Israel was with God being the head...well, in the famous words of Ben Stein in Ferris Beuller's Day Off, "Anyone, anyone?"

Our God Is Unmeasurable
We had some awesome times of worship at the retreat and one particular song really resonated within me. The lyrics reminded us that God's,
"Your love is deep.
Your love is high.
Your love is long.
Your love is wide.
Deeper than my view of grace,
higher than this worldy place.
Longer than the road I travel. Wider than the gap He filled."

This caused to, once again, ponder the incredible vastness of God on the one hand coupled with His incredible love for me as an individual on the other hand. An intimate, personal love. And again I was reminded that,

Psalm 139
O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up;You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue,Behold, O LORD, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night," Even the darkness is not dark to You,And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret,And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. O that You would slay the wicked, O God;Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with the utmost hatred;They have become my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

Jer 23:23-24
"Am I a God who is near," declares the LORD, And not a God far off?
Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?" declares the LORD.
Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD.

Jer 29:13-14
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, "and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the LORD, "and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'

God is near you now, may He be even in your heart.

Glowing in His grace,
Dr. Larry
The Rickity Rack Shack



scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 2:53 PM