Printer
Friendly page - click here
Journal
Archives – March, 2003 |
|
| AN ONGOING SPIRITUAL WEBLOG |
|
 |
March 31, 2003
There are days when all of us feel flustered and frustrated.
Maybe you even feel like you are disconnected. God seems
distant. Life is a struggle. You don’t want to do
anything.
To shake me out of those doldrums means getting real basic.
Even if I don’t feel spiritual or able to pray I
quiet my mind and spend some time in prayer. I try to
make it as honest and real as I can. Reading meditations
and scripture helps to. Then, I just try to do what is
in front of me.
One of the things that helps minimize these times of frustration
is to have a daily regimen. Morning reading and prayer,
quiet time, and some key values and commitments. I’ve
done this and it really helps. It continues to help. I’m
trying to keep things simple. It’s amazing how much
more I see God’s great love and many blessings when
I spend time doing the little things.
Tom Gilbert
|
March 27, 2003
One of
the interesting developments in the world because of
the war in Iraq is what is going on in Mongolia. Freedom
and democracy have not been commonplace there. One media
outlet, Eagle
TV, is changing that. The television station’s
general manager is Tom Terry, an American with a lengthy
career in broadcasting and a great deal of ministry
experience, including Campus
Crusade for Christ.
The station itself is staffed by Mongolians (see this link
to Eagle TV). It is distinctly a local media outlet,
but different from other media sources in Mongolia in
that it is airing news coverage of the war in Iraq
and comments from significant Mongolian guests (such as
the former Prime Minister) along with reactions from
viewers. The viewing audience has been widespread, but
the government is not so pleased. Please keep them
in prayer as they are taking a unique approach to spreading
both the Good News of the Gospel and news that is free from government censorship.
Tom Gilbert
|
March 26, 2003
The question I am living in today is, "What am I
not accepting that I am responsible for?"
What question are you living in today?
Tom Gilbert
|
March 24, 2003
There is a war raging…and I don’t mean just
in Iraq. The war I speak of is going on inside all of
us. The struggle between self will and God’s will.
Sometimes this war is overt and it is obvious that I am
trying to have my way in things. You can easily tell,
because I will be demanding, stubborn and selfish. On
the other hand, I can also be quite subtle. You’ll
observe me acting gracious, kind and considerate. Unfortunately,
my real motives may be manipulative. I might even be blind
to this self-seeking. This is why I must continue to look
to Jesus. How would he have me act? He says in scripture
to be like him: humble and meek, loving to all.
It is good to greet each other with peace. I pray this
peace will truly transform each of us so that we can be
strong in our convictions while kind and loving. The war
goes on; the battlefields include our hearts.
Tom Gilbert
|
March 21, 2003
I am grateful for another day. Fridays are typically a
favorite day. The weekend is upon us and work is winding
down. People’s moods are typically upbeat. Today,
of course, things are somber with the war underway.
God is teaches us so much everyday. I thank you, loving
Creator, for the reminder to find peace inside—given
by Jesus—so that I may project peace outward.
"The purpose of all war is ultimately peace."
– Saint Augustine
Tom Gilbert
|
March 19, 2003
It’s Wednesday, a day I’ve chosen to join
with others from a morning contemplative prayer time to
ask and live in our questions. Too often, we rush to answers.
Try living with your questions today and prayerfully wait
for answers.
Questions I have heard or I am asking. Can I hold love
in my heart for my enemies? What can children teach me
about love? What questions would Jesus be asking today?
Tom Gilbert
|
March 18, 2003
Last night President Bush issued the ultimatum we all
knew was coming. Saddam Hussein and his sons were given
48 hours to leave Iraq or face military action. Thus far,
the only ones to leave have been UN inspectors, diplomats
and some journalists. The war we’ve seen coming
is now just hours away.
The real test I see is for us to continue to demonstrate
our faith. Fear or panic are natural reactions. There
certainly will be plenty of that. There will also be firm
resolve from the troops and leaders. We must resist the
temptation to retreat from daily living or cower internally.
As much as we might want to “pull the bed covers
over our heads” we must continue to live in today,
and each day…one day at a time. Keep praying and
putting your faith in God during these troubled times.
I updated the Spotlight
Link on our site. You might want to check out the
Christian
Emergency Network for information on how we can help
each other in times of disaster or emergency.
Tom Gilbert
|
March 17, 2003
Over the past week, we have been fortunate enough to get
some publicity for Living the Solution from a couple of
places. The Web
Evangelism Bulletin is a terrific, free email newsletter.
Many thanks to Tony Whittaker and this fine outreach (part
of Gospelcom.net)
for mentioning the recent youth ministry feature on our
website. RELEVANTmagazine.com
also recently ran an article I wrote, “End
Run”. Please visit this website, a terrific
resource, especially for young adults.
The result was a number of new visitors. We extend a warm
welcome to you all! It is always gratifying to have people
come to our site. If you like what you see please tell
a friend. It is so important to spread the message of
God’s unconditional love and concern for us in these
particularly troubled times.
Tom Gilbert
|
March 12, 2003
This morning after my contemplative prayer sitting we
were asked again to consider our questions. Wednesday
is a day that we "live" in the question. My
question for today is "What do I need to let go of?"
Tom Gilbert
|
March 11, 2003
Shelter from the storm—this phrase is running through
my head. Aside from it being an excellent Bob Dylan song,
it speaks to me about the storm clouds all around us.
The anxiety most of us are feeling about the world tension
is palpable. We can try to push it down below our conscious
level, but it will still affect us.
Now is the time to do a gut check on our commitment. I
can tell people that there is a loving and caring God
that wants to know each of us personally. People are going
to watch me and see if I “walk that talk”.
I must truly believe this with every fiber of being.
Does this mean there won’t be doubt or fear? No,
that’s not realistic, but a constant return to the
facts of our faith is essential. Especially for all those
around us who are really scared because they don’t
know what or who to put their trust in.
Jesus is alive! He’s right here with us, involved
and caring and nurturing us through the power of the Holy
Spirit. Brothers and sisters, let’s remember how
Jesus comforted the lonely, scared and lost. We can’t
save the world…but we can reach out with love, one
person at a time.
Tom Gilbert
|
March 7, 2003
Lent is underway. For those who follow a liturgical calendar
this is a time of preparation for Easter. This means it
is also a time of remembrance of those days in Jesus’
life that led up to the death on a cross and the glorious
resurrection.
It is always possible to go deeper in contemplation of
those incredible events. I’ve been lax for many
years in really doing this. So often Lent has been a half-hearted
event to make some small sacrifices in my life. And often
I’ve failed at even doing that.
Forty days. It’s not a long time when viewed through
the lens of time. For most of us it barely scratches the
surface of our lives. This year I am being drawn to a
more meaningful walk with Christ. Daily living in the
awareness and recognition of Jesus in everyone I meet
is my prayer. Quiet contemplation is a spiritual tool
I’m using to help me get there. Thus far I’ve
attended the morning prayer session four times. In some
ways it’s been harder the past couple of times.
My mind won’t settle down, I’m thinking and
self-absorbed. Yet, it is the desire and the effort that
is important.
Be still. Know that I am God (psalm 46). May our days
in this season of Lent be filled with peace and a willingness
to walk the road with Jesus, shoulder-to-shoulder, crosses
on our back and a transformation within.
Tom Gilbert
|
March 5, 2003
So much of my time is seeking answers. The whole thrust
of this website is to find answers, thus the “living
the solution”. The seeking is good. Too often I
ask the question, but rush off for the answer. Maybe I
should spend more time in the question.
What questions are you asking today? Maybe such questions
as “what am I living for?”, “who is
most important to me?”, or “is there really
a God that cares about me?” If you are asking questions
this is good! Spend time in those questions. The answers
will come, but it might require better knowing what you
are really asking. It’s very revealing that so often
when people came to Jesus he would ask them “what
do you want me to do for you?”
Tom Gilbert
|
March 3, 2003
If you haven’t noticed yet, the calendar today has
one of those unusual numerical lineups: 03/03/03.
Today, perhaps, it is fitting to reflect on the marvelous
mystery of the Trinity – God in three persons. The
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all one, yet three.
We cannot fully comprehend this with our limited human
understanding. But, we can accept it and immerse ourselves
in the wonder of it.
speaks of God answering us with great and
hidden things we haven’t known when we call to him.
Today I pray that God will help me open my heart to the
mystery of the Trinity.
Also, today is a special call to prayer for peace. At
3:33PM in each of our time zones let us spend three minutes
in quiet, contemplative prayer for peace. You can see
more about this at the World
Prayer Team.
Tom Gilbert
|
| Read past Journal entries here. |
Scripture taken from the
Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered
trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either
trademark for the offering of goods or services requires
the prior written consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy
Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used
by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton,
IL 60189, USA. All rights reserved.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
You'll
also receive Practical Biblical Solutions for life's
challenges with our free e-zine |
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We
have more than 120,000 Christian books,
bibles, music,gifts, video, software and
more!
It's easy to find what you're looking for
by using our BROWSE feature to search for
your favorite type of
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
PSALM 118:24 |
|
|
"This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."
|
|
(NIV) |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
 |
