Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert"
God's creation are full of examples of radical change. A snake slithers out of old dull skin, revealing newer and more brilliant color. A butterfly emerging from a cocoon has undergone a startling metamorphosis...even the change of a tadpole..
We know that God created man above all creatures, to reflect His likeness and glory. We too can expect to experience transformation of even greater proportion.
Have you ever allowed others to box you in with their perspectives? Have you followed suit by diminishing your potential with self-imposed limitations? By asking God to define us, and believing only what He says about us, we can make great strides in becoming the women of God we were created to be. Even if you don't feel new yet, you can start doing things in a new way. Change begins in the heart, moves to the mind, and is expressed through action.
Ask the Lord to provide you with a greater vision of yourself. Soon enough, people will perceive the "new you".
2 Corinthians 3:18 "We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness"
It is possible to live years of our lives under a veil. A veil is not merely an old-fashioned face covering, or something white reserved for a bride..or even something black on a widow's hat...A veil is anything that we hide behind....which then breaks our direct eye contact with God.
What do you hide behind? That's a question that can really make you think. Some hide behind their reputation...or their children..their friends..their money or lack of it..their perceived unworthiness...their past..their mistakes..their definition of themselves...pride..family..job title..or even self image.Coming to Jesus is an unveiling. We have a chance to understand and expose the veil...to come out from behind the curtain of shame. Turn your unveiled face to the Son and let Him shine on you, transforming you into the radiant beauty that He sees in you
What do you hide behind? That's a question that can really make you think. Some hide behind their reputation...or their children..their friends..their money or lack of it..their perceived unworthiness...their past..their mistakes..their definition of themselves...pride..family..job title..or even self image.Coming to Jesus is an unveiling. We have a chance to understand and expose the veil...to come out from behind the curtain of shame. Turn your unveiled face to the Son and let Him shine on you, transforming you into the radiant beauty that He sees in you
"We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You" 2 Chronicles 20:12
An Israelite named Uzzah lost his life because he reached out and took hold of the ark of God. He placed his hands on it to steady it "because the oxen stumbled"..but nevertheless, he had overstepped his bounds by touching the Lord's work.
Time after time, I have tried to "help" God. I am learning that living a life of faith often requires us to leave things alone. I had a friend a few years ago who I kept "rescuing". The needs in her life were great, and she didn't really have anyone else that I could see anyway, who could help her. I kept stepping in..but it seemed no matter how many times I "stepped in" to help, it never really changed anything. The problems only increased and the wear and tear on me was becoming evident as well. Finally, at some point, I realized that God loved this woman, just like He loved me. I realized that to keep "Helping" Him only meant that she was turning to me, instead of to God. I was worn out, and the relationship and trust that He wanted to develop with her were being snuffed out.
I am definitely not saying that we shouldn't help people. I'm not saying that at all. I am saying that if we have completely entrusted someone, or something to God, unless He specifically speaks to us otherwise, I think that it is often better to keep our hands off. God knows every circumstance that we face..much better than we do..and He will work in those circumstances at the perfect moment, if we will completely trust Him to work in His own way and in His time.
There truly are times when the best "action" on our part is simply to pray. It is such a comfort to drop the entanglements and perplexities of life into God's hands and leave them there.
Time after time, I have tried to "help" God. I am learning that living a life of faith often requires us to leave things alone. I had a friend a few years ago who I kept "rescuing". The needs in her life were great, and she didn't really have anyone else that I could see anyway, who could help her. I kept stepping in..but it seemed no matter how many times I "stepped in" to help, it never really changed anything. The problems only increased and the wear and tear on me was becoming evident as well. Finally, at some point, I realized that God loved this woman, just like He loved me. I realized that to keep "Helping" Him only meant that she was turning to me, instead of to God. I was worn out, and the relationship and trust that He wanted to develop with her were being snuffed out.
I am definitely not saying that we shouldn't help people. I'm not saying that at all. I am saying that if we have completely entrusted someone, or something to God, unless He specifically speaks to us otherwise, I think that it is often better to keep our hands off. God knows every circumstance that we face..much better than we do..and He will work in those circumstances at the perfect moment, if we will completely trust Him to work in His own way and in His time.
There truly are times when the best "action" on our part is simply to pray. It is such a comfort to drop the entanglements and perplexities of life into God's hands and leave them there.
I Chronicles 26:27 "Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the Lord."
1Great physical force is stored in the depths of the earth, in places such as coal mines. Coal was produced by the tremendous heat that burned ancient forests many years ago. In the same way, spiritual force is stored in the depth of our being and is sometimes brought about by the very difficult thing in our life that we cannot understand.
Someday we will see that the "plunder taken in battle" from our trials was preparing us to become like Great-Heart in the book Pilgrim's Progress...so that we too could lead our fellow pilgrims triumphantly through trials and difficulties..and eventually end up at the city of the King. May we never forget that the source of learning to help others is sometimes the experience of victory during difficulties.
Paul never carried around a discouraged attitude..but a chorus of victorious praise. The more difficult his trial, the more he trusted and rejoiced. He said, "Even if I am poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. Phil. 2:17...
Lord, today help us to draw strength from whatever comes to us. Help us to trust You no matter our circumstances.
Today I just want to thank all of you for your prayers for my new friend Margarita's grandson Isaiah. At last report, he was doing very well. Praise God! I have another prayer request for all of you. My sister in law Sandy, is undergoing major surgery on Monday. Sandy is my husband's sister..and she is a courageous woman of God. Sandy has been through a lot in the last couple of years. She has served her country via the military and has been all over the world. She recently served in Iraq for l l/2 years and was found to have breast cancer when she came home. She has had two mastectomies along with all the chemo and radiation, and she has done amazingly well. She is a fighter and loves God, her family, and her country. She will be undergoing surgery on Monday for pre-cancerous cells that are around her pancreas. This is not a simple surgery, and I ask that all of you be in prayer for her..for her doctors, and for her family. I know that she will very much appreciate her needs being taken before the throne by all of you. Thank you all very much and I will let you know how she is doing. May the Lord bless you today. May He make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.
Someday we will see that the "plunder taken in battle" from our trials was preparing us to become like Great-Heart in the book Pilgrim's Progress...so that we too could lead our fellow pilgrims triumphantly through trials and difficulties..and eventually end up at the city of the King. May we never forget that the source of learning to help others is sometimes the experience of victory during difficulties.
Paul never carried around a discouraged attitude..but a chorus of victorious praise. The more difficult his trial, the more he trusted and rejoiced. He said, "Even if I am poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. Phil. 2:17...
Lord, today help us to draw strength from whatever comes to us. Help us to trust You no matter our circumstances.
Today I just want to thank all of you for your prayers for my new friend Margarita's grandson Isaiah. At last report, he was doing very well. Praise God! I have another prayer request for all of you. My sister in law Sandy, is undergoing major surgery on Monday. Sandy is my husband's sister..and she is a courageous woman of God. Sandy has been through a lot in the last couple of years. She has served her country via the military and has been all over the world. She recently served in Iraq for l l/2 years and was found to have breast cancer when she came home. She has had two mastectomies along with all the chemo and radiation, and she has done amazingly well. She is a fighter and loves God, her family, and her country. She will be undergoing surgery on Monday for pre-cancerous cells that are around her pancreas. This is not a simple surgery, and I ask that all of you be in prayer for her..for her doctors, and for her family. I know that she will very much appreciate her needs being taken before the throne by all of you. Thank you all very much and I will let you know how she is doing. May the Lord bless you today. May He make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above
James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning"
Whenever I read this verse, I am reminded of the greatest gift of all..the gift of Jesus..who came down from His home in heaven..and in Whom there is no variation...Who does not change..like the shadows around us that move. As we have just come through the season where we celebrate His birth, and we give gifts to each other as a remembrance of the greatest gift..I wanted to share something with all of you.
I have such a wonderful family and was so blessed this year to receive some of the most wondeful and useful gifts that I've ever received. My daughter in law especially always seem to get just the right thing...she just seems to know what I would like. She is a very generous and thoughtful person and loves to get someone just the right thing. I was so thrilled on Christmas morning to open up the CUTEST pair of black boots that she and my son had picked out..and whenever she buys me something, it always fits perfectly! She puts a lot of thought into gift giving..For some reason..I guess because she is so thoughtful, I am always reminded of the gift that God gave to us in His Son, Jesus. No one but God could have thought of a way to redeem mankind..no one but Jesus could offer eternal life..a gift that it's hard to imagine anyone refusing..even though unfortunately, some do.
Jesus IS the perfect gift. He is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Him. Today, my thought for you is simple..Your Father in heaven chose the perfect gift for you. He made a way for you to be saved, to be forgiven, to have joy, peace and comfort, to be redeemed, to know that you are never alone or overlooked..to be assured that when you fall, He will lift you up, when you fail, He forgives. When you are weak, He will be your strength. When you are lost, He is the way. When you are afraid, He is your courage. When you stumble, He will steady you. When you are hurt, He heals! When you are broken, He will mend your heart. When you can't see which way to go, He will lead you. When you are hungry, He will feed you and sustain you. When you face trials, He is with you. When you face persecution, He is your shield. When you face problems, He comforts you. When you face loss, He provides for you. He is faithful. You are His..He is yours!
Whenever I read this verse, I am reminded of the greatest gift of all..the gift of Jesus..who came down from His home in heaven..and in Whom there is no variation...Who does not change..like the shadows around us that move. As we have just come through the season where we celebrate His birth, and we give gifts to each other as a remembrance of the greatest gift..I wanted to share something with all of you.
I have such a wonderful family and was so blessed this year to receive some of the most wondeful and useful gifts that I've ever received. My daughter in law especially always seem to get just the right thing...she just seems to know what I would like. She is a very generous and thoughtful person and loves to get someone just the right thing. I was so thrilled on Christmas morning to open up the CUTEST pair of black boots that she and my son had picked out..and whenever she buys me something, it always fits perfectly! She puts a lot of thought into gift giving..For some reason..I guess because she is so thoughtful, I am always reminded of the gift that God gave to us in His Son, Jesus. No one but God could have thought of a way to redeem mankind..no one but Jesus could offer eternal life..a gift that it's hard to imagine anyone refusing..even though unfortunately, some do.
Jesus IS the perfect gift. He is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Him. Today, my thought for you is simple..Your Father in heaven chose the perfect gift for you. He made a way for you to be saved, to be forgiven, to have joy, peace and comfort, to be redeemed, to know that you are never alone or overlooked..to be assured that when you fall, He will lift you up, when you fail, He forgives. When you are weak, He will be your strength. When you are lost, He is the way. When you are afraid, He is your courage. When you stumble, He will steady you. When you are hurt, He heals! When you are broken, He will mend your heart. When you can't see which way to go, He will lead you. When you are hungry, He will feed you and sustain you. When you face trials, He is with you. When you face persecution, He is your shield. When you face problems, He comforts you. When you face loss, He provides for you. He is faithful. You are His..He is yours!
I Corinthians 4:18 "What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal"
It may seem impossible to imagine right now, from where you are, that this season of your life, is temporary. Does it seem that your life is defined at the moment by your circumstances? That you might feel the way you are feeling forever? That this is your new reality? Beloved, wisdom speaks through God's Word. He is telling us that this pain is temporary..that we will transcend these circumstances..and that He has so much more in store for us that we can look forward to.
Have you ever seen one of those giant mazes...made by tall, carefully cut European shrubs? Have you ever felt as if you were sort of wandering in a maze..just not sure which direction is the way out? You're sure that the path to exit is just around the next bend in the maze..but you cannot see far enough in front of you to know how much farther you have to go? The mere idea of endurance without end would be overwhelming...but the ultimate perspective is from above! God sees the beginning and the end...and every twist and turn in between.
Don't give in to weakness by dwelling on what you see today. Look through it, as hard as it is, to the vision that is just beyond your sight.
K Armstrong
Have you ever seen one of those giant mazes...made by tall, carefully cut European shrubs? Have you ever felt as if you were sort of wandering in a maze..just not sure which direction is the way out? You're sure that the path to exit is just around the next bend in the maze..but you cannot see far enough in front of you to know how much farther you have to go? The mere idea of endurance without end would be overwhelming...but the ultimate perspective is from above! God sees the beginning and the end...and every twist and turn in between.
Don't give in to weakness by dwelling on what you see today. Look through it, as hard as it is, to the vision that is just beyond your sight.
K Armstrong
Exodus 4:12 "Now go. I will help you speak and will teach you what to say"
We are all hesitant at times, neglectful even, to speak the truth from our hearts. This lack of authenticity, often disguised as a desire to be pleasing can tend to undermine friendships, work and family relationships, and even marriages. God created us to be true to Him, and therefore true to ourselves as a by-product.
We may hesitate to speak up because we think that words will fail us. This scripture tells us otherwise. Moses was trying to convince God that he was not the best cohice to lead the people. He said, "I am slow of speech and tongue."..to which God replied, "I will help you speak and will teach you what to say"
And He will. God will empower us to glorify Him by living, and speaking in truth and in love.
We may hesitate to speak up because we think that words will fail us. This scripture tells us otherwise. Moses was trying to convince God that he was not the best cohice to lead the people. He said, "I am slow of speech and tongue."..to which God replied, "I will help you speak and will teach you what to say"
And He will. God will empower us to glorify Him by living, and speaking in truth and in love.
Colossians 2:10 "And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power"
I have been going through what I believe to be a spiritual battle like no other the past few weeks. This is a verse that I need to memorize and remind myself of daily..and throughout the day. Beloved, we are complete in Christ! From the moment that you invited Him to be part of your life, and to live in your heart, you began a new life. You became complete. You are whole. The more time you spend with Him, the more you know Him..and you are rooted, and built up in Him and established in your faith. In Him dwells all the fullness of God, and YOU are IN HIM. Amazing!
When we are in a battle, we must remember who God has made us..IN Christ..we must remember that Christ is the head over all principality and power...and we are IN Him. As plants draw nourishment from the soil through their roots, so we draw our life giving strength from Christ. The more we draw life from Him, the less we will be affected when we are facing those spiritual battles..and the less we will be "taken in" by the world's way of dealing with things.
Paul writes against any philosophy of life based only on human ideas and experiences. Paul was himself a gifted philosopher, so he was not condemning philosophy..he was condemning teaching that credits humanity, not Christ with the answers to life's problems. Knowing Christ is truly all we need to deal with any battle. He alone holds the answers to life's questions..because He IS life. He is our unique source of wisdom and power. No child of God needs anything else. Beloved, you are COMPLETE in Him.
When we are in a battle, we must remember who God has made us..IN Christ..we must remember that Christ is the head over all principality and power...and we are IN Him. As plants draw nourishment from the soil through their roots, so we draw our life giving strength from Christ. The more we draw life from Him, the less we will be affected when we are facing those spiritual battles..and the less we will be "taken in" by the world's way of dealing with things.
Paul writes against any philosophy of life based only on human ideas and experiences. Paul was himself a gifted philosopher, so he was not condemning philosophy..he was condemning teaching that credits humanity, not Christ with the answers to life's problems. Knowing Christ is truly all we need to deal with any battle. He alone holds the answers to life's questions..because He IS life. He is our unique source of wisdom and power. No child of God needs anything else. Beloved, you are COMPLETE in Him.
But they soon forgot
Psalm 106:12-15 "Then they believed His promises and sang His praise. But they soon forgot what He had done, and did not wait for His counsel. In the desert, they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland, they put God to the test."
In Hebrews 11:27 we read that Moses "perservered because he saw Him who is invisible". Yet in the above passage, exactly the opposite was true of the children of Israel. They perservered only when their circumstances were favorable, because they were primarily influenced by whatever appealed to their senses, instead of trusting in the invisible and eternal God.
Even today, there are those who live inconsistent Christian lives because they have become preoccupied with things that are external. Some focus on their circumstances rather than focusing on God. I have struggled with this in my own life..even in the last month..as I've been dealing with a physical problem that is painful. It is so easy to get my mind on the problem, and off God. Beloved, God desires that we grow in our ability to see Him in everything, and to realize the importance of even seemingly insignificant circumstances if they are being used by Him in some way.
We read of the children of Israel that "THEN they believed His promises"...They did not believe until AFTER they saw..once they saw Him work.."THEN they believed." They doubted God when they came to the Red Sea, but when He opened the way and led them across, and they SAW Pharoah and his army drowned, "THEN they believed". The Israelites continued to live this kind of up and down existence, because their faith was dependent upon their circumstances..but dear child of God..this is NOT the kind of faith that God wants us to have.
The world says that "seeing is believing".. but God wants us to believe in order to see. The psalmist said "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living".
Do you believe God only when your circumstances are favorable, or do you believe no matter what your circumstances might be? Faith is believing what we do not see, and the reward for this kind of faith is to see what we believe.
Taken in part from Streams in the Desert
In Hebrews 11:27 we read that Moses "perservered because he saw Him who is invisible". Yet in the above passage, exactly the opposite was true of the children of Israel. They perservered only when their circumstances were favorable, because they were primarily influenced by whatever appealed to their senses, instead of trusting in the invisible and eternal God.
Even today, there are those who live inconsistent Christian lives because they have become preoccupied with things that are external. Some focus on their circumstances rather than focusing on God. I have struggled with this in my own life..even in the last month..as I've been dealing with a physical problem that is painful. It is so easy to get my mind on the problem, and off God. Beloved, God desires that we grow in our ability to see Him in everything, and to realize the importance of even seemingly insignificant circumstances if they are being used by Him in some way.
We read of the children of Israel that "THEN they believed His promises"...They did not believe until AFTER they saw..once they saw Him work.."THEN they believed." They doubted God when they came to the Red Sea, but when He opened the way and led them across, and they SAW Pharoah and his army drowned, "THEN they believed". The Israelites continued to live this kind of up and down existence, because their faith was dependent upon their circumstances..but dear child of God..this is NOT the kind of faith that God wants us to have.
The world says that "seeing is believing".. but God wants us to believe in order to see. The psalmist said "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living".
Do you believe God only when your circumstances are favorable, or do you believe no matter what your circumstances might be? Faith is believing what we do not see, and the reward for this kind of faith is to see what we believe.
Taken in part from Streams in the Desert
Ephesians 6:10 "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might"
Memorize this verse and hide it in your heart. When I start to falter, my first reaction can tend to be one of panic..and wondering..what do I do? No matter how long I have spent in the workshop, my progress is made evident only in the initial moment of peril. We prepare ourselves internally to meet the challenges externally. We rehearse in advance so our responses are involuntary when the moment of truth arrives.
There isn't one situation, one temptation, or one question that cannot be answered with the response "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might". On a multiple-choice test, this is answer (d) All of the above. Use this verse to steady yourself in shaky moments until you regain your stability on the Rock.
God is not telling you to be tough on your own, or to come up with the right thing to do. He is saying to rely on His power, His strength, and to allow Him to do for you what He knows best.
K Armstrong
There isn't one situation, one temptation, or one question that cannot be answered with the response "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might". On a multiple-choice test, this is answer (d) All of the above. Use this verse to steady yourself in shaky moments until you regain your stability on the Rock.
God is not telling you to be tough on your own, or to come up with the right thing to do. He is saying to rely on His power, His strength, and to allow Him to do for you what He knows best.
K Armstrong
Job 17:11 "My days have passed, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart"
Who knows more about brokeness than Job? Job lost nearly everything in his life..including his children..but he didn't lose faith in God. He was stripped of his fortune, his friends, his family and even his health. From the depths of despair, he still would not give up on God.
Instead, Job talked to God. He expressed his pain, his illness, his emptiness. He grieved his loss openly, never shutting God out.
We have a choice either to include God in our pain, or to exclude Him and try to make it on our own. Because of Job's strength in the face of testing and the fact that nothing could cause him to deny God, God blessed Job many times over and restored his life.
Be wary that your pain does not cause you to give God the cold shoulder. He wants to hear from you...and it's ok to tell Him anything..it's ok to tell Him how you truly feel. He knows anyway...and He cares deeply.
Instead, Job talked to God. He expressed his pain, his illness, his emptiness. He grieved his loss openly, never shutting God out.
We have a choice either to include God in our pain, or to exclude Him and try to make it on our own. Because of Job's strength in the face of testing and the fact that nothing could cause him to deny God, God blessed Job many times over and restored his life.
Be wary that your pain does not cause you to give God the cold shoulder. He wants to hear from you...and it's ok to tell Him anything..it's ok to tell Him how you truly feel. He knows anyway...and He cares deeply.
Heavenly Realms
Ephesians 2:4-6 " Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions..and God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realm in Christ Jesus"
This is our rightful place.."seated with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus"..yet seated..and still. But how few of us actually experience this. In fact, most of us feel that it's impossible to sit still "in the heavenly realms" while living our everyday life in a world so full of turmoil.
Oh, we believe it may be possible to visit these "heavenly realms" on Sundays or now and then during times of great spiritual emphasis and praise..but to actually "be seated" there all day, every day..is a completely different matter. Yet it is clear from the scriptures that it is meant not only for Sundays, but for weekdays as well.
There is tremendous power in stillness. A great believer once said "All things come to him who knows how to trust and to be silent". This fact is rich with meaning, and a true understanding of it would greatly change our ways of living. Instead of continuing our restless striving, we would "sit down" inwardly before the Lord, allowing the divine forces of His Spirit to silently work out the means to accomplish our goals and aspirations.
You may not see or feel the inner workings of His silent power, but rest assured, it is always mightly at work. And it will work for you, if you will only quiet your spirit enough to be carried along the the current of His power.
From Streams in the Desert
This is our rightful place.."seated with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus"..yet seated..and still. But how few of us actually experience this. In fact, most of us feel that it's impossible to sit still "in the heavenly realms" while living our everyday life in a world so full of turmoil.
Oh, we believe it may be possible to visit these "heavenly realms" on Sundays or now and then during times of great spiritual emphasis and praise..but to actually "be seated" there all day, every day..is a completely different matter. Yet it is clear from the scriptures that it is meant not only for Sundays, but for weekdays as well.
There is tremendous power in stillness. A great believer once said "All things come to him who knows how to trust and to be silent". This fact is rich with meaning, and a true understanding of it would greatly change our ways of living. Instead of continuing our restless striving, we would "sit down" inwardly before the Lord, allowing the divine forces of His Spirit to silently work out the means to accomplish our goals and aspirations.
You may not see or feel the inner workings of His silent power, but rest assured, it is always mightly at work. And it will work for you, if you will only quiet your spirit enough to be carried along the the current of His power.
From Streams in the Desert
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding
Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding"
This is one of my favorite verses in all of scripture. It is so simple..and yet so powerful..so much truth packed into this one little verse. Trust in the Lord.
Beloved, no matter what dark cloud may be hanging around over your life today, trust God. No matter what people may tell you, trust God. Don't put faith in anything but Him. Don't lean on what you think you know about something..lean on God. He will certainly bring all your circumstances into His glorious light of understanding in His time.
Today's thought is so simple, and yet so profound..simply trust Him.
This is one of my favorite verses in all of scripture. It is so simple..and yet so powerful..so much truth packed into this one little verse. Trust in the Lord.
Beloved, no matter what dark cloud may be hanging around over your life today, trust God. No matter what people may tell you, trust God. Don't put faith in anything but Him. Don't lean on what you think you know about something..lean on God. He will certainly bring all your circumstances into His glorious light of understanding in His time.
Today's thought is so simple, and yet so profound..simply trust Him.
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent Psalm 30:11-12
It begins quietly, this revolution of joy, with a steady rumbling growing inside and a gray haze lifting as light begins to break through. At first, the mere absence of "awful" feels heavenly. Soon enough, we are surprised to hear our own laughter, like our joy is an old friend who has come back into our life. You start to develop that spring in your step. You put lipstick on at a stoplight and smile when you flip the mirror open. The CD you're playing is playing songs that minister to you.
You realize that the absence of "awful" is not good enough for you. It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Remember? Beloved, God wants to heal you..from whatever has hurt you..whether it was the cutting remarks of someone, the pain of losing someone you love, being rejected by someone you so much want to love you, the depression that had seemed to settle over your life like a large black cloud...God wants you whole..and He is your Healer. When He heals you, He will stop at nothing short of joy!
The other day, I was feeling blue..some things were going on in my life that were a challenge. We were on our way to church that morning and the sky was cloudy. All of a sudden, the rays from the sun broke through the clouds, and they were incredible. I still couldn't see the sun..only the rays sweeping down over the earth in all their brilliance. In that moment, God reminded me that no matter what "storm" is over my life, He is still "in" the storm. I may not see Him, but He is there.
Beloved, in whatever area you are hurting today, cry out to your Healer..seek Him..invite Him in to your situation. He truly wants to see you whole..and remember that even though you may not see Him..He is there.
You realize that the absence of "awful" is not good enough for you. It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Remember? Beloved, God wants to heal you..from whatever has hurt you..whether it was the cutting remarks of someone, the pain of losing someone you love, being rejected by someone you so much want to love you, the depression that had seemed to settle over your life like a large black cloud...God wants you whole..and He is your Healer. When He heals you, He will stop at nothing short of joy!
The other day, I was feeling blue..some things were going on in my life that were a challenge. We were on our way to church that morning and the sky was cloudy. All of a sudden, the rays from the sun broke through the clouds, and they were incredible. I still couldn't see the sun..only the rays sweeping down over the earth in all their brilliance. In that moment, God reminded me that no matter what "storm" is over my life, He is still "in" the storm. I may not see Him, but He is there.
Beloved, in whatever area you are hurting today, cry out to your Healer..seek Him..invite Him in to your situation. He truly wants to see you whole..and remember that even though you may not see Him..He is there.
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers"
Last Sunday, our pastor touched on this scripture when he was preaching..I love my pastor..He can communicate a difficult thought without condemning anyone or making them feel guilty. He simply looked out at us and quietly stated.."So you say you love God, and yet what is it that comes out of your mouth?" He began to speak about swear words, and someone from the back called out "preach it!" I found myself wanting to call out too..what about gossip? What about judgement? What about harsh words that hurt? What about lying? What about revealing someone's private problems under the guise of "praying" about it? What about complaining?
I heard someone say once that the things that bother us the most are probably the things we struggle with ourselves. I didn't have the courage to call out. I only know that I have struggled with my mouth my entire life. I think if the truth were known, most of us do. As our pastor very sweetly broached this subject, something happened. I think everyone in the room must have sensed it. I know that the Lord is always with us..but that morning as our pastor preached, the sweet presence of God filled the room. It was like a blanket that came down and warmed all of our hearts. You could have heard a pin drop in there.
I have come to truly realize that the reason for his instructive verse from scripture isn't just for those around us..it's for us. Have you ever noticed that the more you talk about something difficult, the worse you feel? Words are containers for power. They come out of our mouths, and somehow enter the air around us..then they go back into our own ears, and the ears of anyone around us. We can actually get discouraged and become fainthearted, just by listening to ourselves!
Ray and I visited a church one time that we absolutely loved. The worship was like none other...it was so God honoring. The preaching was also very God honoring and encouraging. We would have gone back except for one thing. Before and after the service, we picked up on a lot of gossip going on among people who attended there. How can this even be? How can this even happen to any of us when we have just sat in the presence of God? I think of the children of Israel and how they murmured and complained..and I wonder how different I am.
Words have the power to build up..they also have the power to destroy. I have seen marriages discentegrate simply because of the words that were spoken. Wars begin because of words. Families fall apart because of words. Friendships end because of words.
Beloved, we all need God's help in this area. This is not in any way meant to make anyone feel bad. God knew that we would struggle..and it is His desire that we encourage each other. Today, ask for His help, and He will certainly give it..not only that..you will be encouraged and uplifted yourself as you begin to speak words of life. May you all be richly blessed today!
I heard someone say once that the things that bother us the most are probably the things we struggle with ourselves. I didn't have the courage to call out. I only know that I have struggled with my mouth my entire life. I think if the truth were known, most of us do. As our pastor very sweetly broached this subject, something happened. I think everyone in the room must have sensed it. I know that the Lord is always with us..but that morning as our pastor preached, the sweet presence of God filled the room. It was like a blanket that came down and warmed all of our hearts. You could have heard a pin drop in there.
I have come to truly realize that the reason for his instructive verse from scripture isn't just for those around us..it's for us. Have you ever noticed that the more you talk about something difficult, the worse you feel? Words are containers for power. They come out of our mouths, and somehow enter the air around us..then they go back into our own ears, and the ears of anyone around us. We can actually get discouraged and become fainthearted, just by listening to ourselves!
Ray and I visited a church one time that we absolutely loved. The worship was like none other...it was so God honoring. The preaching was also very God honoring and encouraging. We would have gone back except for one thing. Before and after the service, we picked up on a lot of gossip going on among people who attended there. How can this even be? How can this even happen to any of us when we have just sat in the presence of God? I think of the children of Israel and how they murmured and complained..and I wonder how different I am.
Words have the power to build up..they also have the power to destroy. I have seen marriages discentegrate simply because of the words that were spoken. Wars begin because of words. Families fall apart because of words. Friendships end because of words.
Beloved, we all need God's help in this area. This is not in any way meant to make anyone feel bad. God knew that we would struggle..and it is His desire that we encourage each other. Today, ask for His help, and He will certainly give it..not only that..you will be encouraged and uplifted yourself as you begin to speak words of life. May you all be richly blessed today!
2 Samuel 22:20 "He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me"
Sometimes we tend to confine ourselves with our self-made limitations. We fence in our little garden patch and tend to it; meanwhile, the Lord has a vast meadow, streams, fields, and a mountain vista for us.
This place you occupy because yhou think it is all you can manage or all you deserve is too small for you. The Lord has more in mind, and you will grow in your walk with Him because of it. The Lord delights in you. He wants to rescue you from the way you define yourself..so that He can define you.
Allow the Lord to draw you out. If you are a wallflower, let Him bring you out of your shell. It you love the spotlight, let Him bring you beyond what you could even imagine. If you aren't sure who you are any more, allow Him to define you..once and for all. He has a beautiful open space for you, with plenty of room to grow.
K Armstrong
This place you occupy because yhou think it is all you can manage or all you deserve is too small for you. The Lord has more in mind, and you will grow in your walk with Him because of it. The Lord delights in you. He wants to rescue you from the way you define yourself..so that He can define you.
Allow the Lord to draw you out. If you are a wallflower, let Him bring you out of your shell. It you love the spotlight, let Him bring you beyond what you could even imagine. If you aren't sure who you are any more, allow Him to define you..once and for all. He has a beautiful open space for you, with plenty of room to grow.
K Armstrong
Come unto Him
Ephesians 1:5-6 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will..to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved"
Ok..is it just me, or does anyone else feel like dancing a hallelujah dance? This to me is one of the most excitiing passages of scripture in the entire Bible! The word "predistinated" in verse 5 actually means "beforehand"..God has literally adopted us as His own children, and knew before we ever came into being that He would make a way for us to become His child..through Jesus sacrifice on the cross, we have been brought in to the family of God! Now we are joint heirs with Jesus! Amazing!
In Roman law, adopted children had the same rights and privileges as natural children. Paul uses this term to show how strong our relationship to God truly is. Because Ray and I actually went through the adoption process, and tried to bring a little girl here from China, (because of red tape, it didn't happen)..but I get this picture in my mind of the faces of all the children who need someone to love them..who are homeless until someone takes them in..who have been rejected by the world and simply need to be loved..and my heart breaks..I wish I could take in every child who needs a family.
These are God's sentiments exactly! He simply says "come" and be part of my family. "Come" and let me be your Father. "Come" and let me bring you into a large family, where you'll have many brothers and sisters. "Come" and allow me to make you a joint heir with my Son, Jesus. "Come" and let me lead you. "Come"..and experience redemption through the blood of Christ. "Come" and experience forgiveness. "Come" and let me bless you with wisdom. "Come" and allow Me to give you a gift..it's called salvation.
Obviously, I could go on and on..Friends..you are ACCEPTED in the beloved. Your heavenly Father went to great lengths to ADOPT you and bring you into the family of God. All He asks of you is to "come".
Ok..is it just me, or does anyone else feel like dancing a hallelujah dance? This to me is one of the most excitiing passages of scripture in the entire Bible! The word "predistinated" in verse 5 actually means "beforehand"..God has literally adopted us as His own children, and knew before we ever came into being that He would make a way for us to become His child..through Jesus sacrifice on the cross, we have been brought in to the family of God! Now we are joint heirs with Jesus! Amazing!
In Roman law, adopted children had the same rights and privileges as natural children. Paul uses this term to show how strong our relationship to God truly is. Because Ray and I actually went through the adoption process, and tried to bring a little girl here from China, (because of red tape, it didn't happen)..but I get this picture in my mind of the faces of all the children who need someone to love them..who are homeless until someone takes them in..who have been rejected by the world and simply need to be loved..and my heart breaks..I wish I could take in every child who needs a family.
These are God's sentiments exactly! He simply says "come" and be part of my family. "Come" and let me be your Father. "Come" and let me bring you into a large family, where you'll have many brothers and sisters. "Come" and allow me to make you a joint heir with my Son, Jesus. "Come" and let me lead you. "Come"..and experience redemption through the blood of Christ. "Come" and experience forgiveness. "Come" and let me bless you with wisdom. "Come" and allow Me to give you a gift..it's called salvation.
Obviously, I could go on and on..Friends..you are ACCEPTED in the beloved. Your heavenly Father went to great lengths to ADOPT you and bring you into the family of God. All He asks of you is to "come".
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ
Ephesians 1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in Love"
Good morning everyone!!! Today, I have an assignment for you. Honestly, this will bless your socks off! Here is what I would ask you to do...The above passage is AMAZING! But I want you to personalize it. In every spot where you can, I want you to insert your name...so it would read like this.."Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who hath blessed, me, Judy, with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ...according as He hath chosen me, Judy, in Him before the foundation of the world, that I Judy, should be holy and without blame before Him in love" Wow!
Precious child of God..if each of us only KNEW how MUCH God loves us! If we took every Scripture and made it personal, it would change the way we think about how much we are loved. It would help us to see ourselves differently. It would help us to see ourselves through the eyes of God..to know that we are valuable to Him.
Beloved, He CHOSE you..before the foundation of the world! Before He thought of anything else, He thought of YOU! He knew YOU! And..because you are in Him, you are seen by Your God as being Holy! You are blameless! Just let that sink for a minute. I know that we all fail...daily! But God has blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings In Christ..our salvation..the power to live daily in Him..the hope of living forever..the joy, and the peace that come in having a relationship with Him. Because we have an intimate relationship with Him, we can enjoy those blessings now!
Dear one;...today, I am asking you to REMEMBER and personalize todayu the fact that you are in Christ. You will find strength to face whatever your day brings..in simply Remembering!
Good morning everyone!!! Today, I have an assignment for you. Honestly, this will bless your socks off! Here is what I would ask you to do...The above passage is AMAZING! But I want you to personalize it. In every spot where you can, I want you to insert your name...so it would read like this.."Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who hath blessed, me, Judy, with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ...according as He hath chosen me, Judy, in Him before the foundation of the world, that I Judy, should be holy and without blame before Him in love" Wow!
Precious child of God..if each of us only KNEW how MUCH God loves us! If we took every Scripture and made it personal, it would change the way we think about how much we are loved. It would help us to see ourselves differently. It would help us to see ourselves through the eyes of God..to know that we are valuable to Him.
Beloved, He CHOSE you..before the foundation of the world! Before He thought of anything else, He thought of YOU! He knew YOU! And..because you are in Him, you are seen by Your God as being Holy! You are blameless! Just let that sink for a minute. I know that we all fail...daily! But God has blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings In Christ..our salvation..the power to live daily in Him..the hope of living forever..the joy, and the peace that come in having a relationship with Him. Because we have an intimate relationship with Him, we can enjoy those blessings now!
Dear one;...today, I am asking you to REMEMBER and personalize todayu the fact that you are in Christ. You will find strength to face whatever your day brings..in simply Remembering!
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness
Ephesians 4:22-23 "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness"
Are there things about the "old you" that you weren't crazy about? Maybe you felt you were too controlling, too weak, too compliant, too regimented, too rebellious..too bossy, too afraid, too inhibited, too critical, too unfocused, too indecisive, too willing to settle for less?
Guess what? You are invited by the Lord to shake off all the dust of the old you, and reveal what He has been working on underneath. Like a renovation project covered in scaffolding and plastic, you now have your grand opening!
Open the doors, cut the ribbon...The bottom line is that you don't forget to celebrate who God has made wonderful YOU! You are not the sum of your old definition. You are not who anyone has told you, you are. You are who God says you are. Your old self has been made new in the attitude of our mind, which is where things begin. Congratulations!
K Armstrong
Are there things about the "old you" that you weren't crazy about? Maybe you felt you were too controlling, too weak, too compliant, too regimented, too rebellious..too bossy, too afraid, too inhibited, too critical, too unfocused, too indecisive, too willing to settle for less?
Guess what? You are invited by the Lord to shake off all the dust of the old you, and reveal what He has been working on underneath. Like a renovation project covered in scaffolding and plastic, you now have your grand opening!
Open the doors, cut the ribbon...The bottom line is that you don't forget to celebrate who God has made wonderful YOU! You are not the sum of your old definition. You are not who anyone has told you, you are. You are who God says you are. Your old self has been made new in the attitude of our mind, which is where things begin. Congratulations!
K Armstrong
Philippians 4:7 "The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus"
Yesterday, I had a conversation with someone I love very much, who is facing one of the most difficult challenges in her life at the moment. She began to share with me the peace that she is experiencing. By the world's standards, there would be no reason to believe that her life will ever be normal again..but she doesn't live by the world's standards. She has chosen to believe God. She is standing on what she knows to be truth..and she knows that she is in His very capable hands.
The unlimited, indefinable peace of God does not come to us via our own effort. We cannot relax or meditate ourselves into the depths of this peace. We cannot mandate it by managing our own circumstances. We cannot will it by virtue of sheer desire. We cannot think our way into it with our intellect. We cannot orchestrate it with our vast skills. We cannot obtain it with our finances. We cannot force it by wielding our power. We cannot steal it from anyone's possession.
This peace is most evident when everything is falling around you, and yet you have a sure and steady stillness at your core. In the chaos you have more clarity than in so-called ordinary times. When everything is moving, it becomes easy to focus on the one thing that remains unshakable.
When you finally reconigize peace as the presence of Christ, you will never want anything else.
The unlimited, indefinable peace of God does not come to us via our own effort. We cannot relax or meditate ourselves into the depths of this peace. We cannot mandate it by managing our own circumstances. We cannot will it by virtue of sheer desire. We cannot think our way into it with our intellect. We cannot orchestrate it with our vast skills. We cannot obtain it with our finances. We cannot force it by wielding our power. We cannot steal it from anyone's possession.
This peace is most evident when everything is falling around you, and yet you have a sure and steady stillness at your core. In the chaos you have more clarity than in so-called ordinary times. When everything is moving, it becomes easy to focus on the one thing that remains unshakable.
When you finally reconigize peace as the presence of Christ, you will never want anything else.
Matthew 7:5 "First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye"
In other words, I think God is saying here..be careful to mind your own business. We have enough that God is helping us through, that should leave little time or energy for judging others. Our own weaknesses blind us, often rendering us unable to see ourselves clearly. The very thing that annoys us about someone else, or the thing that provokes a spirit of judgement, is most likely the area that we need to work on in our own life.
Notice the size difference between a speck and a plank. God is telling each of us that our own issues are probably the more problematic. We need to first seek Him to clear our own vision. Only then, in plain view of our own weaknesses, can we offer any real help to others. When you feel a twinge of judgement, realize that it is very possibly illuminating something that you need to see in yourself. In that way with God's help, you can walk through to the freedom that He wants you to have.
Notice the size difference between a speck and a plank. God is telling each of us that our own issues are probably the more problematic. We need to first seek Him to clear our own vision. Only then, in plain view of our own weaknesses, can we offer any real help to others. When you feel a twinge of judgement, realize that it is very possibly illuminating something that you need to see in yourself. In that way with God's help, you can walk through to the freedom that He wants you to have.
Ezekiel 34:16 "I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak"
Do you see how loved you are? Do you feel how pursued you have been..and how desired you are? Do you see how protected you are?
I think that most of you are saved. You have invited Jesus into your hearts..but today, invite Him into your problems, into your pain. Let Him replace your missing pieces. Let Him heal your brokeness. Let Him cure your afflictions.
Where other eyes choose blindness, God's eyes seek until He finds. As far as you could ever run away, He will find you and bring you home. As chipped and broken as your heart may be, He will smooth the cracks. As sick as you may be feeling, or as dark as the world around you may seem, He comes with healing light to lead you to safety.
There is no gap larger than His love can bridge...no failure that He cannot redeem...no plague of spirit He cannot cure. Don't run from Him today beloved. Run TO Him..and allow Him to love you back to health.
I think that most of you are saved. You have invited Jesus into your hearts..but today, invite Him into your problems, into your pain. Let Him replace your missing pieces. Let Him heal your brokeness. Let Him cure your afflictions.
Where other eyes choose blindness, God's eyes seek until He finds. As far as you could ever run away, He will find you and bring you home. As chipped and broken as your heart may be, He will smooth the cracks. As sick as you may be feeling, or as dark as the world around you may seem, He comes with healing light to lead you to safety.
There is no gap larger than His love can bridge...no failure that He cannot redeem...no plague of spirit He cannot cure. Don't run from Him today beloved. Run TO Him..and allow Him to love you back to health.
A Homeless God by Frank Viola
Hi Everyone.. I don't normally send these out..I get them every Sunday..but there were some good thoughts in this one..so I hope you all enjoy it. Have a blessed week!
"As you come to Him, the living Stone -- rejected by men butchosen by God and precious to Him -- you also, like livingstones, are being built into a spiritual house…" (1 Peter 2:4-5a)
This week's devotional comes from Frank Viola's book From Eternity to Here: Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of God .
Part of my roots are in the Charismatic movement. In that experience, I was repeatedly encouraged to seek God for a "visitation" from heaven. As a result, I harbored the illusion that if God visited our church, He was pleased with it. I later discovered that God is not looking for a place to visit. He is looking for a place to dwell.
The pages of history are littered with the sobering fact that God is no longer present in the places He once visited. Go to the landmarks of past revivals, and you'll quickly discover that the crowds have diminished. The joy is gone. The life has evaporated. In many cases, those places are but hollow shells today.
For me the intriguing question is: Why does the Lord leave? The answer is telling: because he was not completely welcomed.
He was allowed to visit, but He was not permitted to be head. That is, He was not granted the right to make the decisions.
Visitations bless us for a short season. But a dwelling place for God is something for His interest and His desire. Blessing is merely a byproduct. It's not the prime product.
Contemplate this thought: If God "visits" a church, it betrays the fact that it doesn't belong to Him. A homeowner doesn't visit his own home. He lives in it. In a divine visitation, God will bless His people. But He will eventually move on and search for a home that He can call his own. Thus if the headship of Jesus Christ is not fully yielded to any given place, the best of Lord can do is visit. He cannot take up residency.
Our Lord is in a quest for a place to lay His head, a place where His headship is operative, a place where He does what He wishes, a place where he can feel comfortable and find rest. This is the indelible mark that a particular church is in fact His house. Anything else is but a layover for Him.
Like any homeowner, God builds His house in His own way. If the home is His, He arranges the furniture the way He wishes, for He is the master of His own home.
In this connection, I want you to imagine countless living stones scattered all over the earth. I want you to see innumerable living stones living their own individual Christian lives. I want you to see scores of living stones who loved God, but who are isolated and independent of other living stones. Many attend religious services, but there is little to no "building together" among the members.
That is precisely the situation we find ourselves in today. And what is the net effect? God is still homeless.
The burning intent of your God is that all of His living stones be built together with other living stones to form His house. Not for themselves, but for their Lord. To be the house of God, by God and for God.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:16)
Jesus Christ did not die and rise again just to forgive you of your sins. He died in order that His father could obtain a home. The Lord saved you and me for a high and holy purpose.
Without people who are being assembled together, God is a wandering, homeless God. And we are wondering, homeless Christians. Your Lord wishes to build Himself into a people, and He wishes to build a people into Himself. He is after a building, not a rock quarry. He wants a house, not a heap of stones nor group of scattered rocks. The Lord Jesus Christ is looking for willing vessels who will abandon their Western-style individualism and live a shared life with others under His exclusive headship. This is our high calling.
This WeekMake a home for the Lord in your life. Each day, give Him complete headship to arrange your life as He wishes. Then begin to connect with other “living stones” by building relationships with fully committed believers.
Prayer“Lord, take complete control of my life. Dwell with me so that I can be yours. Be with me and be my God. Amen”
"As you come to Him, the living Stone -- rejected by men butchosen by God and precious to Him -- you also, like livingstones, are being built into a spiritual house…" (1 Peter 2:4-5a)
This week's devotional comes from Frank Viola's book From Eternity to Here: Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of God .
Part of my roots are in the Charismatic movement. In that experience, I was repeatedly encouraged to seek God for a "visitation" from heaven. As a result, I harbored the illusion that if God visited our church, He was pleased with it. I later discovered that God is not looking for a place to visit. He is looking for a place to dwell.
The pages of history are littered with the sobering fact that God is no longer present in the places He once visited. Go to the landmarks of past revivals, and you'll quickly discover that the crowds have diminished. The joy is gone. The life has evaporated. In many cases, those places are but hollow shells today.
For me the intriguing question is: Why does the Lord leave? The answer is telling: because he was not completely welcomed.
He was allowed to visit, but He was not permitted to be head. That is, He was not granted the right to make the decisions.
Visitations bless us for a short season. But a dwelling place for God is something for His interest and His desire. Blessing is merely a byproduct. It's not the prime product.
Contemplate this thought: If God "visits" a church, it betrays the fact that it doesn't belong to Him. A homeowner doesn't visit his own home. He lives in it. In a divine visitation, God will bless His people. But He will eventually move on and search for a home that He can call his own. Thus if the headship of Jesus Christ is not fully yielded to any given place, the best of Lord can do is visit. He cannot take up residency.
Our Lord is in a quest for a place to lay His head, a place where His headship is operative, a place where He does what He wishes, a place where he can feel comfortable and find rest. This is the indelible mark that a particular church is in fact His house. Anything else is but a layover for Him.
Like any homeowner, God builds His house in His own way. If the home is His, He arranges the furniture the way He wishes, for He is the master of His own home.
In this connection, I want you to imagine countless living stones scattered all over the earth. I want you to see innumerable living stones living their own individual Christian lives. I want you to see scores of living stones who loved God, but who are isolated and independent of other living stones. Many attend religious services, but there is little to no "building together" among the members.
That is precisely the situation we find ourselves in today. And what is the net effect? God is still homeless.
The burning intent of your God is that all of His living stones be built together with other living stones to form His house. Not for themselves, but for their Lord. To be the house of God, by God and for God.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:16)
Jesus Christ did not die and rise again just to forgive you of your sins. He died in order that His father could obtain a home. The Lord saved you and me for a high and holy purpose.
Without people who are being assembled together, God is a wandering, homeless God. And we are wondering, homeless Christians. Your Lord wishes to build Himself into a people, and He wishes to build a people into Himself. He is after a building, not a rock quarry. He wants a house, not a heap of stones nor group of scattered rocks. The Lord Jesus Christ is looking for willing vessels who will abandon their Western-style individualism and live a shared life with others under His exclusive headship. This is our high calling.
This WeekMake a home for the Lord in your life. Each day, give Him complete headship to arrange your life as He wishes. Then begin to connect with other “living stones” by building relationships with fully committed believers.
Prayer“Lord, take complete control of my life. Dwell with me so that I can be yours. Be with me and be my God. Amen”
I Timothy 1:14 "The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly"
You can take great comfort in these words of truth. If you are one like me..who can tend to be a bit impatient at times..one who flips to the last chapter of a good book..or who wants to know how a movie is going to end before even watching it..or have even searched for hidden Christmas gifts as a child..take heart..because this Scripture holds your happy ending.
If you were to flip to the last page of your life, these words would complete your story. Regardless of all the trials you may have endured, or the twists and turns of your path, this verse is the outcome of your story.
Someday when you are older, you may look back over your life, and reflect the days leading up to where you are...and you will most certainly conclude that..."the grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly"
If you were to flip to the last page of your life, these words would complete your story. Regardless of all the trials you may have endured, or the twists and turns of your path, this verse is the outcome of your story.
Someday when you are older, you may look back over your life, and reflect the days leading up to where you are...and you will most certainly conclude that..."the grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly"
John 11:4 "Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me"
The sequence of events in this passage seem almost strange. Lazarus was still in his tomb. Yet, Jesus thanked God before the miracle of raising him from the dead. It would seem that thanksgiving would have been lifted up to God once the great miracle had been accomplished, and Lazarus had been restored to life...but Jesus gave thanks for what He was about to receive. His gratitude sprang forth before the blessing had arrived..,before the answer came. His thanksgiving was an expression of assurance that God had heard Him, and that the answer was certainly on its way.
A song of victory was being sung in the confident thanksgiving that Jesus made to the Father. It was the Sower singing that song of thanksgiving. It reminded me of Joshua's triumphant march around the city of Jericho, before the wall fell down.., the priests sounding their trumpets and the people shouting in victorious unison for 7 days..as they waited for the wall to come down...or the song of triumph in 2 Chronicles 20, when once again the enemy was defeated as the children of God worshiped and praised the Lord.
I am not in any way saying that if we praise, we will get something. That isn't why we praise..but today..Thanksgiving day..my prayer is that each of us would spend some time remembering..looking back at all that God has done..all the people He has brought into our lives..all the ways that He has protected us and provided for us.. the fact that we have been saved..the fact that we are forgiven..the work that Jesus did on the cross..and that we would offer up to Him, a confident thanksgiving..knowing that He hears our prayers, and that He inhabits our praises.
Our family started a tradition a few years ago. We all get together, and we go around the room, and each person speaks for a few moments, about what he or she is thankful for. There has never been a time yet, where we weren't in tears..because the truth is..we focus on the wonder of God..and His goodness to us..and He moves in, and inhabits the praises..
I hope that some of you might consider a time today, to just remember what your God has done..and to simply thank Him..from the bottom of your heart. May you all be richly blessed today...and by the way, I am sooooooo thankful..for every one of you.
A song of victory was being sung in the confident thanksgiving that Jesus made to the Father. It was the Sower singing that song of thanksgiving. It reminded me of Joshua's triumphant march around the city of Jericho, before the wall fell down.., the priests sounding their trumpets and the people shouting in victorious unison for 7 days..as they waited for the wall to come down...or the song of triumph in 2 Chronicles 20, when once again the enemy was defeated as the children of God worshiped and praised the Lord.
I am not in any way saying that if we praise, we will get something. That isn't why we praise..but today..Thanksgiving day..my prayer is that each of us would spend some time remembering..looking back at all that God has done..all the people He has brought into our lives..all the ways that He has protected us and provided for us.. the fact that we have been saved..the fact that we are forgiven..the work that Jesus did on the cross..and that we would offer up to Him, a confident thanksgiving..knowing that He hears our prayers, and that He inhabits our praises.
Our family started a tradition a few years ago. We all get together, and we go around the room, and each person speaks for a few moments, about what he or she is thankful for. There has never been a time yet, where we weren't in tears..because the truth is..we focus on the wonder of God..and His goodness to us..and He moves in, and inhabits the praises..
I hope that some of you might consider a time today, to just remember what your God has done..and to simply thank Him..from the bottom of your heart. May you all be richly blessed today...and by the way, I am sooooooo thankful..for every one of you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)