(1Peter 1:8-9) "You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. (9) The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls."
Somehow we get it wrong saying, "God you first prove your self to me by doing ______ then I will trust you." Sometimes it turns out but what if it doesn't who then suffers loss? Is it not better to trust God knowing that He is good and true? Jesus told doubting Thomas the he believed because he seen Jesus' wounds but blessed are those who believe and have not seen (John 20:29)
Lord, help me to trust you more even when things look dim and without hope. I know because of your Word you are good and you are working things together to make me more like Jesus. Many times this molding comes in the way of storms and heart ache but even so I will trust you because you are my source of hope an peace. Thank you for not leaving me when I make bad decisions but instead you lift me up and help me stand once again - making me trust you more. In this way you build up in me your faith so that I might be shown faithful. In your Son's name Jesus I pray, amen.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Is God for me?
While walking through a valley so deep the sun only shows for a few hours each day one is faced with a question. To know that all things are possible for God is not hard to believe, likewise knowing that God has a purpose and that purpose will be accomplished is no stretch. I know that through circumstances He is shaping me and molding me like a potter molds the clay vessel on the pottery wheel but is it His purpose that my hopes be destroyed in the process? This question I come across in many different forms as I walk this path but at it’s base the question is this – is God for me? Will God not only rescue my soul but my emotional and psychological well being too or will I be brought low to the point I can do nothing but surrender? When He is finished with me will I still be me or someone else? Does God really care about the little things that I care about? Like Jacob I could wrestle with God but I haven’t the will and though I conform I am left pondering these things.
If God knows me intimately, like I know He does because He is the Creator of all life, then He must know what is best for me and though there are times the molding and reshaping is painful it is necessary. There comes a time in each person’s life where complete surrender is required and there each one comes face to face with this question – do I completely trust God with my life? Do I believe what He is making me to be is better than what I am? He gives me His Word so that I may know Him, how did He change those who followed before me? Is that someone I want to be? Paul, who was Saul was aware of how God changed him and he had such a great love for God he said this, “For to me, living means for Christ, and dying is even better.” (Philippians 1:21). He had one mind undivided by the things of this earth. As he faced death he knew crossing that threshold would only serve to take him home to see his Redeemer and if he was allowed to live it meant allowing God to live through him so that others may know the Lover of our souls also.
Ultimately I know God is for me and though I would choose a different path I also know my very sight is given to me by Him and without Him my eyes go dim and I am left standing in the dark. We cannot let anything hold us back from following our Lord and Savior though the enemy will lie continuously. Lord let us know your passion for us, let us understand if only a little what we mean to you. We have been alone for so long and You have been crying out for us, for you long to be with us, we are yours and You have given your Son so that like Paul we have a home to come home to. Thank you Father God for reassuring us as we take these steps in this deep valley.
If God knows me intimately, like I know He does because He is the Creator of all life, then He must know what is best for me and though there are times the molding and reshaping is painful it is necessary. There comes a time in each person’s life where complete surrender is required and there each one comes face to face with this question – do I completely trust God with my life? Do I believe what He is making me to be is better than what I am? He gives me His Word so that I may know Him, how did He change those who followed before me? Is that someone I want to be? Paul, who was Saul was aware of how God changed him and he had such a great love for God he said this, “For to me, living means for Christ, and dying is even better.” (Philippians 1:21). He had one mind undivided by the things of this earth. As he faced death he knew crossing that threshold would only serve to take him home to see his Redeemer and if he was allowed to live it meant allowing God to live through him so that others may know the Lover of our souls also.
Ultimately I know God is for me and though I would choose a different path I also know my very sight is given to me by Him and without Him my eyes go dim and I am left standing in the dark. We cannot let anything hold us back from following our Lord and Savior though the enemy will lie continuously. Lord let us know your passion for us, let us understand if only a little what we mean to you. We have been alone for so long and You have been crying out for us, for you long to be with us, we are yours and You have given your Son so that like Paul we have a home to come home to. Thank you Father God for reassuring us as we take these steps in this deep valley.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Dying to self
How small is the world of one who has turned inward. Selfishness is never content, always wanting more, always falling short of God’s glory but when the eyes are upon God’s good faithfulness the boundaries that confine are loosed and the heart dances before the Lord like a young deer in the meadow. May the fire of the Lord consume the faithful and lead them into mercies and compassion that was before unknown so that their eyes may be opened. For the Lord reigns and mighty is His throne. Who can stand in His presence? What does selfishness profit the one who carries its weight? Can the treasures stored up by their hands compare with the peace and rest the Lord gives to the one who places Him first? The world teaches us to work for the things we want. Is success desired? Then work hard and maybe you will find it. The biggest problem with that ideal is that it works too often on a certain level. So we work to get more, if a little is good then more is better right? It is in the condition of the heart and the gaze of the eyes, for the more we set our eyes on lesser things the more the path leads away from the Lord until one day we find ourselves surrounded by the quicksand of want, in a world that does not reach beyond our own sight but God is faithful to clean the mud from our eyes and lift us out of the muck of our own desires. Dying to self is a daily cleansing, not a monthly or even weekly event. So Lord, bring us into your courts each day so that we may keep watch and run our race as you intended. For you have broken all that binds us, Lord we shout unto you for you have placed our feet on a solid rock!
Monday, August 1, 2011
A prayer
Lord, it is difficult for me to understand your great mercy. You restore those who walk upright before thee; the same who desire to please their God. You have given us the law so that we might know of our need for a Savior and you were faithful to give us your Son Jesus for that very purpose. So help us not to waist our time but to use it wisely, for the days of man are short and we have but one chance to live the life you intended. Lord, don’t let me blame you when I go through difficulties but help me to be thankful for walking with me and not leaving me alone. You know me inside and out and you see the fragility of my heart and you comfort me and reassure me so that I may follow in your footsteps. Thank you for loving me and for not letting go of my hand.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Advise of the wicked
(Psalms 1:1-3 NLT) “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
Our motives are at least as important as our actions. Two men can do the same thing, one with a righteous motive and one with a wicked motive and only one be justified by God. When we feel compelled to take action it is good to examine the reasons why. Have you ever been corrected by someone placed over you who does it in such a way as to make himself look better? Take the same situation; have ever been corrected by someone who is sincere about seeing you do better? Which one was right? How did you feel after each situation? Which one made you want to work harder and which one hindered your work? Which one do you want to follow? This passage in Psalms is talking about taking a stand for righteousness, even if you’re the only one. This person’s strength is renewed by the Lord, bearing fruit and prospering in all they do not just because of his actions but his motives as well. The word “delight” gives insight to this person’s heart, he loves nothing more than to please God and God is faithful to bless His servant.
Our motives are at least as important as our actions. Two men can do the same thing, one with a righteous motive and one with a wicked motive and only one be justified by God. When we feel compelled to take action it is good to examine the reasons why. Have you ever been corrected by someone placed over you who does it in such a way as to make himself look better? Take the same situation; have ever been corrected by someone who is sincere about seeing you do better? Which one was right? How did you feel after each situation? Which one made you want to work harder and which one hindered your work? Which one do you want to follow? This passage in Psalms is talking about taking a stand for righteousness, even if you’re the only one. This person’s strength is renewed by the Lord, bearing fruit and prospering in all they do not just because of his actions but his motives as well. The word “delight” gives insight to this person’s heart, he loves nothing more than to please God and God is faithful to bless His servant.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Faithful steps
Sometimes the smallest things have the greatest purpose. Doing what is right by loving your neighbor, helping without being asked, being thoughtful of other’s needs, in the same way reading scripture and practicing time alone with God through prayer and meditation, all these things impact your situation more than you realize. Why, because by doing these things you are saying, “God I trust you to take care of me.” You effectively place your life in God’s hands as you remain faithful to the things He has given you to do. Opposing that is a life that is stratagized, controlled, and well laid. This life can appear to be the very bases of success but inside there is a gaping hole because this man has set his life apart from God. You see God created everything.
(Psalms 89:11 NLT) “The heavens are Yours, and the earth is Yours; everything in the world is Yours--You created it all.”
Yes, the rich man, the self-made man has many resources he has laid up for himself but in comparison to what belongs to God it is nothing!
(Luke 12:13-20 NLT) “Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me." Jesus replied, "Friend, who made Me a judge over you to decide such things as that?" Then He said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own." Then He told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.' Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"' "But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?'”
When we’re busy ourselves for the gain of riches we lose the essences of the very thing we are trying to improve upon. It’s a hunger that cannot be satisfied, meaning nothing we obtain will satisfy us for very long but God says, come and drink and thirst no more (John 4:14). He made us to have relationship with Him and nothing can replace that. In the act of laying down our concerns and coming to rest at the feet of Jesus something happens beyond our control – the blessings of God flow and these blessings cannot be measured!
(Psalms 89:11 NLT) “The heavens are Yours, and the earth is Yours; everything in the world is Yours--You created it all.”
Yes, the rich man, the self-made man has many resources he has laid up for himself but in comparison to what belongs to God it is nothing!
(Luke 12:13-20 NLT) “Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me." Jesus replied, "Friend, who made Me a judge over you to decide such things as that?" Then He said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own." Then He told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.' Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"' "But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?'”
When we’re busy ourselves for the gain of riches we lose the essences of the very thing we are trying to improve upon. It’s a hunger that cannot be satisfied, meaning nothing we obtain will satisfy us for very long but God says, come and drink and thirst no more (John 4:14). He made us to have relationship with Him and nothing can replace that. In the act of laying down our concerns and coming to rest at the feet of Jesus something happens beyond our control – the blessings of God flow and these blessings cannot be measured!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Insight enough for Thankfulness
No matter what season we are going through in our life there is reason enough to show gratitude, for even in the valley God is with us. We are loved and protected even though we are not perfect; it was this way with Jacob. Though he tricked his brother and had to run away because of his brother’s great anger God loved Jacob and protected him. Jacob was over his household and this is what he told them,
(Genesis 35:3 NLT) “We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone."
Thankfulness is the response of a person who has insight into their own need for a Savior full of grace and mercy and it brings us into communion with the Father when we need Him most! Living with in a state of thankfulness is not just for the times when we are in the valley but mountaintops as well. Yes, there are times when Father God will lead us through the deep forest of faith where we are tested in order to bring us to the mountain of courage. Here He shows us a humble footpath leading upward and though it is treacherous at times we sense there is purpose in it and that we are not alone; we have come too far to turn back now. In this time the faith that was gained proves to be good and necessary, this experience too we will find is necessary for where He is leading us next but before that comes rest. As we reach the end of the footpath we come the summit of peace. In the awe of it all we look around, hardly able to believe this place exists. Then we look out over the valley where we once were and see evidence of God being with us. For many times we were close to pitfalls and snares that could not have been navigated without an experienced guide. At that moment it all comes together and all the questions why seem so small and remote. Looking the other direction we see places that we have not yet gone but somehow we know standing in this place we will endure whatever comes our way. Through it all what we are gaining a rich relationship and love with the One who guides us. All of this is possible because of a thankful heart!
(Colossians 2:7 NLT) “Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
(Genesis 35:3 NLT) “We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone."
Thankfulness is the response of a person who has insight into their own need for a Savior full of grace and mercy and it brings us into communion with the Father when we need Him most! Living with in a state of thankfulness is not just for the times when we are in the valley but mountaintops as well. Yes, there are times when Father God will lead us through the deep forest of faith where we are tested in order to bring us to the mountain of courage. Here He shows us a humble footpath leading upward and though it is treacherous at times we sense there is purpose in it and that we are not alone; we have come too far to turn back now. In this time the faith that was gained proves to be good and necessary, this experience too we will find is necessary for where He is leading us next but before that comes rest. As we reach the end of the footpath we come the summit of peace. In the awe of it all we look around, hardly able to believe this place exists. Then we look out over the valley where we once were and see evidence of God being with us. For many times we were close to pitfalls and snares that could not have been navigated without an experienced guide. At that moment it all comes together and all the questions why seem so small and remote. Looking the other direction we see places that we have not yet gone but somehow we know standing in this place we will endure whatever comes our way. Through it all what we are gaining a rich relationship and love with the One who guides us. All of this is possible because of a thankful heart!
(Colossians 2:7 NLT) “Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
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