(Daniel 3:17-18 MKJV) If it is so that our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, then He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up.
Is there something you believe God for but haven't seen it come to pass yet? Do you find yourself being strong and unshakable one moment then struggling and moody the next? As the pressure becomes greater do you draw closer to God or fall away? If you answered, “Pull closer to Him.” Then you are on the right track. If you find yourself falling away then consider carefully the cost of your choice. God wants to sure up your faith; He is working on building your trust in Him. We can say we believe but until we actually go through a situation that exercises our faith we don’t know how much. We must remember God cannot love us any more than He does right now and He will not love us any less. God’s love for His people is unchanged by their spiritual growth. With this unmerited favor (grace) we stand complete but not finished! We are His work and made whole in Him, yet He changes us. We come to Him as we are but He calls us to more. Through this change we will experience growing pains, no doubt but think about who you were before you knew Christ as your savior – I for one do not want to stay the same as I was. He brings us into new territory and just like a guide who we put our trust in as he leads us through the wilds of Africa we must also trust Jesus Christ as He leads us through this wild adventure of the spirit. So hold tightly to Him regardless how hot the fire gets. Ultimately we will be with Him and one day His work in us will be complete!
(Philippians 1:6 NLT) And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Growing through loss and change Part I
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 MKJV) To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heavens: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pull up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Losing something that is dear to us is painful whether it is a loved one, a relationship, or career. Change is never easy and God understands our grief He has felt loss too. When His Son Jesus died on the cross, while it was still morning darkness came over the whole land. (Matthew 27:45-46 MKJV) “And from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”
God says there is a time for grieving. Through allowing your heart to feel the weight of loss God ushers in healing, if we will allow Him in. We have to trust God beyond what our eyes tell us, beyond what our mind says – God is good all the time! Will ultimately trust Him with eternity but do we trust Him in the now? I am reminded that this life is temporary and if I am tested now it is because something greater awaits me. Will I pass the test or will I turn from God and lose my way?
(Deuteronomy 34:7-8 MKJV) “And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor had he lost any of his natural strength. And the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. And the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.”
(Psalms 147:3 MKJV) He heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds.
God is everlasting and His days have no end! Place your trust in Him and be made whole. (Romans 8:28 MKJV) “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Losing something that is dear to us is painful whether it is a loved one, a relationship, or career. Change is never easy and God understands our grief He has felt loss too. When His Son Jesus died on the cross, while it was still morning darkness came over the whole land. (Matthew 27:45-46 MKJV) “And from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”
God says there is a time for grieving. Through allowing your heart to feel the weight of loss God ushers in healing, if we will allow Him in. We have to trust God beyond what our eyes tell us, beyond what our mind says – God is good all the time! Will ultimately trust Him with eternity but do we trust Him in the now? I am reminded that this life is temporary and if I am tested now it is because something greater awaits me. Will I pass the test or will I turn from God and lose my way?
(Deuteronomy 34:7-8 MKJV) “And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor had he lost any of his natural strength. And the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. And the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.”
(Psalms 147:3 MKJV) He heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds.
God is everlasting and His days have no end! Place your trust in Him and be made whole. (Romans 8:28 MKJV) “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Thursday, April 15, 2010
God's favor
(Esther 2:17 MKJV) And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she rose in grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins. And he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Esther won the king’s favor. Reading this book points out three things she did that we can learn as we seek God’s favor in our own lives.
1) She took the time necessary to prepare her self. Twelve months of preparation was required before meeting the king. In the same way we are to study to let God know we are serious about seeking His approval. (2 Timothy 2:15 MKJV) “Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”
2) She wanted to please only the king. If she won the approval of the king surely she could have won the hearts of many others but that did not matter to her. In the same way we must be set apart, dividing right from wrong, good from the best, and our purpose from God’s. (Luke 16:13 MKJV) “No servant can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
3) She had a purpose that went beyond her self. Haman, one of the king’s men planned to wipeout the Jewish people but God purposed for Esther to be over Haman as his queen, still Haman was very powerful and influential and when it was time Esther risked her life to serve God. In the same way we have been given a purpose that goes beyond having a dream home, car, even family. God has placed within you the answer to someone’s question, just as He did Esther. If we allow ourselves to be distracted by the things of this world and temporary comforts we will lose our birthright given to us by the King. (Genesis 25:29 MKJV) “And Jacob boiled soup. And Esau came from the field, and he was faint. And Esau said to Jacob, I beg you, Let me eat of the red, this red soup, for I am faint. Therefore his name was called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me your birthright today. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point of dying, and what profit shall this birthright be to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day. And he swore to him, and he sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and soup of lentils. And he ate and drank, and rose up and went his way. And Esau despised his birthright.”
Esther won the king’s favor. Reading this book points out three things she did that we can learn as we seek God’s favor in our own lives.
1) She took the time necessary to prepare her self. Twelve months of preparation was required before meeting the king. In the same way we are to study to let God know we are serious about seeking His approval. (2 Timothy 2:15 MKJV) “Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”
2) She wanted to please only the king. If she won the approval of the king surely she could have won the hearts of many others but that did not matter to her. In the same way we must be set apart, dividing right from wrong, good from the best, and our purpose from God’s. (Luke 16:13 MKJV) “No servant can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
3) She had a purpose that went beyond her self. Haman, one of the king’s men planned to wipeout the Jewish people but God purposed for Esther to be over Haman as his queen, still Haman was very powerful and influential and when it was time Esther risked her life to serve God. In the same way we have been given a purpose that goes beyond having a dream home, car, even family. God has placed within you the answer to someone’s question, just as He did Esther. If we allow ourselves to be distracted by the things of this world and temporary comforts we will lose our birthright given to us by the King. (Genesis 25:29 MKJV) “And Jacob boiled soup. And Esau came from the field, and he was faint. And Esau said to Jacob, I beg you, Let me eat of the red, this red soup, for I am faint. Therefore his name was called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me your birthright today. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point of dying, and what profit shall this birthright be to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day. And he swore to him, and he sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and soup of lentils. And he ate and drank, and rose up and went his way. And Esau despised his birthright.”
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
What is your excuse? Part II
(Luke 14:16-18 NIV) Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'
One of my excuses was the idea that if I could control my circumstances everything would be fine. So you know what happened God allowed me the opportunity to do just that and things started falling apart. It got so bad that I gave up on the idea and came running back to my Heavenly Father. When I asked Him what was going on He gently reminded me of my pride and shortsightedness and how it led me to choices made. With each wrong choice I planted a seed when that seed came to maturity I reaped a life independent from God’s principles. I could have been angry with God and turned from Him but He knew exactly what I needed. He knew that my heart was bent towards Him and soon I would let go of my pride and come to Him for help. Somehow He know I would not blame Him but instead see Him as my only salvation from myself. Today I am working through the effect of my ideals and as I do I see more and more each day that God is my source, my constant provider, and the keeper of my faith! He has filled me with hope and each new day with Him brings me closer to the person He has made me to be but none of this would be possible if I didn’t stop making excuses.
So what is you excuse? What keeps you from having a deeper relationship with the only One who matters. When we understand that everything else is so much less than our relationship with our Creator an unstoppable hunger from inside begins to grow to experience all He has. Jesus told the following crowd, (Luke 14:26-27 NIV) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
Truly following God will take everything you have and it is of the utmost importance that your heart understands this, eternity depends upon it. Consider this, whatever you hold dearest to you apart from God it will be asked of you.
(Genesis 22:1-14 MSG) “After all this, God tested Abraham. God said, "Abraham!" "Yes?" answered Abraham. "I'm listening." He said, "Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I'll point out to you." Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants and his son Isaac. He had split wood for the burnt offering. He set out for the place God had directed him. On the third day he looked up and saw the place in the distance. Abraham told his two young servants, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I are going over there to worship; then we'll come back to you." Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and gave it to Isaac his son to carry. He carried the flint and the knife. The two of them went off together. Isaac said to Abraham his father, "Father?" "Yes, my son." "We have flint and wood, but where's the sheep for the burnt offering?" Abraham said, "Son, God will see to it that there's a sheep for the burnt offering." And they kept on walking together. They arrived at the place to which God had directed him. Abraham built an altar. He laid out the wood. Then he tied up Isaac and laid him on the wood. Abraham reached out and took the knife to kill his son. Just then an angel of GOD called to him out of Heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Yes, I'm listening." "Don't lay a hand on that boy! Don't touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn't hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me." Abraham looked up. He saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. Abraham named that place GOD-Yireh (GOD-Sees-to-It). That's where we get the saying, "On the mountain of GOD, he sees to it.”
All of our dreams and hopes will be asked of us and when we finally let go God surprises us with His immeasurable goodness!
One of my excuses was the idea that if I could control my circumstances everything would be fine. So you know what happened God allowed me the opportunity to do just that and things started falling apart. It got so bad that I gave up on the idea and came running back to my Heavenly Father. When I asked Him what was going on He gently reminded me of my pride and shortsightedness and how it led me to choices made. With each wrong choice I planted a seed when that seed came to maturity I reaped a life independent from God’s principles. I could have been angry with God and turned from Him but He knew exactly what I needed. He knew that my heart was bent towards Him and soon I would let go of my pride and come to Him for help. Somehow He know I would not blame Him but instead see Him as my only salvation from myself. Today I am working through the effect of my ideals and as I do I see more and more each day that God is my source, my constant provider, and the keeper of my faith! He has filled me with hope and each new day with Him brings me closer to the person He has made me to be but none of this would be possible if I didn’t stop making excuses.
So what is you excuse? What keeps you from having a deeper relationship with the only One who matters. When we understand that everything else is so much less than our relationship with our Creator an unstoppable hunger from inside begins to grow to experience all He has. Jesus told the following crowd, (Luke 14:26-27 NIV) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
Truly following God will take everything you have and it is of the utmost importance that your heart understands this, eternity depends upon it. Consider this, whatever you hold dearest to you apart from God it will be asked of you.
(Genesis 22:1-14 MSG) “After all this, God tested Abraham. God said, "Abraham!" "Yes?" answered Abraham. "I'm listening." He said, "Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I'll point out to you." Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants and his son Isaac. He had split wood for the burnt offering. He set out for the place God had directed him. On the third day he looked up and saw the place in the distance. Abraham told his two young servants, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I are going over there to worship; then we'll come back to you." Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and gave it to Isaac his son to carry. He carried the flint and the knife. The two of them went off together. Isaac said to Abraham his father, "Father?" "Yes, my son." "We have flint and wood, but where's the sheep for the burnt offering?" Abraham said, "Son, God will see to it that there's a sheep for the burnt offering." And they kept on walking together. They arrived at the place to which God had directed him. Abraham built an altar. He laid out the wood. Then he tied up Isaac and laid him on the wood. Abraham reached out and took the knife to kill his son. Just then an angel of GOD called to him out of Heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Yes, I'm listening." "Don't lay a hand on that boy! Don't touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn't hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me." Abraham looked up. He saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. Abraham named that place GOD-Yireh (GOD-Sees-to-It). That's where we get the saying, "On the mountain of GOD, he sees to it.”
All of our dreams and hopes will be asked of us and when we finally let go God surprises us with His immeasurable goodness!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
What is your excuse? Part I
(Luke 14:16-18 NIV) Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'
There are so many things that keep us busy and many of them are even good things such as family and work but the one thing we must realize is that everything in this life is temporary. Even if we live to be one hundred years old that is but a vapor when compared to eternity. (Psalms 103:15-16 NIV) “As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.”
It is natural to hold on to things we value in this life for that is all we have known but don’t let the “good” get in the way of God’s “best”. In other words I can get so wrapped up in family and work (like those Jesus told about in Luke chapter 14) that I become short-sighted and miss what God has for me. This life is an opportunity – will we choose to serve God or ourselves? One way leads to abundant life and the other way leads to death.
God made provisions for us to be part of His family through His Son Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-18 NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”
But it is up to us to accept the gift He has given to us. It would be like finding a big, beautiful gift on Christmas morning with our name on it but not opening it because we were too busy with lesser things. God made us and desires to have relationship with us but because of Adam’s sin all humanity has been separated from God. However, because of Jesus Christ all humanity has the opportunity to walk with God once again but like Adam we have been given the gift of freewill. Jesus says He waits for us to accept Him… (Revelation 3:20 NIV) “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
What is your excuse?
There are so many things that keep us busy and many of them are even good things such as family and work but the one thing we must realize is that everything in this life is temporary. Even if we live to be one hundred years old that is but a vapor when compared to eternity. (Psalms 103:15-16 NIV) “As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.”
It is natural to hold on to things we value in this life for that is all we have known but don’t let the “good” get in the way of God’s “best”. In other words I can get so wrapped up in family and work (like those Jesus told about in Luke chapter 14) that I become short-sighted and miss what God has for me. This life is an opportunity – will we choose to serve God or ourselves? One way leads to abundant life and the other way leads to death.
God made provisions for us to be part of His family through His Son Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-18 NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”
But it is up to us to accept the gift He has given to us. It would be like finding a big, beautiful gift on Christmas morning with our name on it but not opening it because we were too busy with lesser things. God made us and desires to have relationship with us but because of Adam’s sin all humanity has been separated from God. However, because of Jesus Christ all humanity has the opportunity to walk with God once again but like Adam we have been given the gift of freewill. Jesus says He waits for us to accept Him… (Revelation 3:20 NIV) “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
What is your excuse?
Monday, April 12, 2010
The breaking process
(Matthew 6:10 NLT) “May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”
God’s purpose in brokenness is not to destroy you but to gain your undivided attention. Without it we become self-reliant and blind to the truth that God is the center – not us! God knows us by heart, He knows our weaknesses before we fall yet He loves us and waits for us with arms wide open but if we don’t experience our own brokenness we never see our need for a Savior. Once we understand our frailty God’s Holy Spirit leads us to repentance, through the doorway of repentance we find God’s discipline.
(Hebrews 12:5-10 NLT) “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the LORD's discipline, and don't give up when He corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child." As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn't discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness.”
On the other side of His discipline is the ultimate prize – intimacy with God but to stay there shows maturity, for many times in this life we pass through this cycle of brokenness, discipline, and intimacy with God. The wise recognize this cycle and begin to live a disciplined life that pleases God, not because He is needy but because He knows what is best for His children and we desire intimacy with Him.
God’s purpose in brokenness is not to destroy you but to gain your undivided attention. Without it we become self-reliant and blind to the truth that God is the center – not us! God knows us by heart, He knows our weaknesses before we fall yet He loves us and waits for us with arms wide open but if we don’t experience our own brokenness we never see our need for a Savior. Once we understand our frailty God’s Holy Spirit leads us to repentance, through the doorway of repentance we find God’s discipline.
(Hebrews 12:5-10 NLT) “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the LORD's discipline, and don't give up when He corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child." As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn't discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness.”
On the other side of His discipline is the ultimate prize – intimacy with God but to stay there shows maturity, for many times in this life we pass through this cycle of brokenness, discipline, and intimacy with God. The wise recognize this cycle and begin to live a disciplined life that pleases God, not because He is needy but because He knows what is best for His children and we desire intimacy with Him.
Become a gracious receiver
(Matthew 10:8 MKJV) Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. You have received freely, freely give.
Balance is the key to a God-centered life. Giving and receiving is just one area where balance is required but we tend to be good at one or the other. One will freely give advise, encouragement, or money while another can receive those things but for one reason or another cannot seem to give them. In receiving we acknowledge our dependence upon God and other people and in giving we practice God’s love but these lessons are only learned if we are focused on Him. In every case when a life is out of balance in one area or another it points to our focus being on something other than God and presents an opportunity for growth. The giver who cannot receive misses the mark because the giving is more about self-worth instead of God being the source. When the receiver cannot give its because he has not listened to who God says he is. God has provided an abundant life and we receive His mercies new every morning how can we not give in return – we cannot out give God! (Luke 6:38 MSG) “Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back--given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”
In the same way receiving helps us learn we are not self-sufficient and it empowers others to practice God’s presence in their life. So walk today with your eyes wide open looking for opportunities to give in abundance and receive graciously!
Balance is the key to a God-centered life. Giving and receiving is just one area where balance is required but we tend to be good at one or the other. One will freely give advise, encouragement, or money while another can receive those things but for one reason or another cannot seem to give them. In receiving we acknowledge our dependence upon God and other people and in giving we practice God’s love but these lessons are only learned if we are focused on Him. In every case when a life is out of balance in one area or another it points to our focus being on something other than God and presents an opportunity for growth. The giver who cannot receive misses the mark because the giving is more about self-worth instead of God being the source. When the receiver cannot give its because he has not listened to who God says he is. God has provided an abundant life and we receive His mercies new every morning how can we not give in return – we cannot out give God! (Luke 6:38 MSG) “Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back--given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”
In the same way receiving helps us learn we are not self-sufficient and it empowers others to practice God’s presence in their life. So walk today with your eyes wide open looking for opportunities to give in abundance and receive graciously!
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