Romans 5:3-4
... Problems and trials help us develop endurance. Endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
We can rejoice in problems and trials when we view them from God's point of view. He is using these dreaded things to mold us into the very image of His Son. So our trials are developing our endurance, to carry on carrying on. This in turn builds our character, and our character is what we will bring with us into Eternity. As our character strengthens, our confidence grows, and our trust in God's certain Promises settles our hearts and chases away all worry and regret, looking toward His future that He has already planned for us to have, both in this life and in the next.
We know that God will settle all debts, right all wrongs, even all odds, and even reward us for accomplishing the things He planned for us to do, in His power to do them. God is so good, the reality of what Good is. He is Love, He is Light, He is Life. God is everything we need.
When we would end up in this world divested of all worldly things, and all we will have is God; then God will show Himself to be everything we need!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, February 3, 2017
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Reasonable Or Deadly?
I Chronicles 15:13
Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly.
We hear David recounting how they were moving the Ark from Abinidab's house, but they had put it on a cart, instead of having the Levites carry it with the staves on their shoulders. God knew that any other method of moving it would be unstable and dangerous, so when the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, Uzza put his hand on the Ark itself so it wouldn't fall, and he died instantly. This Ark was not an ordinary object, and required extraordinary care.
David said that they failed to ask God how to properly move it, and this Uzza, a good man who, in his concern for the safety of the Ark, disregarded his own safety, and paid with his life. Was he electrocuted? Was it radioactive? We don't know, since they knew nothing of these concepts back then to write about them. All they knew was that they hadn't asked God for His instructions, and someone suffered the consequences.
David thought it was perfectly reasonable to use a brand-new cart, but sometimes what we think is reasonable will put us in danger. Maybe not danger of our lives, but danger of our reputations, or, even more important, God's reputation. God wants us to depend on Him, not our own understandings, since His knowledge and understanding is so far beyond ours. He always knows what is best, and we can often misunderstand miserably.
O my Father, please remind me to always ask You for Your ways, to do Your will, not my own, even when I think my way is perfectly reasonable. May I always consult Your Word for my every decision, and always be aware of how Your reputation will fare by my actions. May I seek Your face every moment of every day for my every step in life.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly.
We hear David recounting how they were moving the Ark from Abinidab's house, but they had put it on a cart, instead of having the Levites carry it with the staves on their shoulders. God knew that any other method of moving it would be unstable and dangerous, so when the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, Uzza put his hand on the Ark itself so it wouldn't fall, and he died instantly. This Ark was not an ordinary object, and required extraordinary care.
David said that they failed to ask God how to properly move it, and this Uzza, a good man who, in his concern for the safety of the Ark, disregarded his own safety, and paid with his life. Was he electrocuted? Was it radioactive? We don't know, since they knew nothing of these concepts back then to write about them. All they knew was that they hadn't asked God for His instructions, and someone suffered the consequences.
David thought it was perfectly reasonable to use a brand-new cart, but sometimes what we think is reasonable will put us in danger. Maybe not danger of our lives, but danger of our reputations, or, even more important, God's reputation. God wants us to depend on Him, not our own understandings, since His knowledge and understanding is so far beyond ours. He always knows what is best, and we can often misunderstand miserably.
O my Father, please remind me to always ask You for Your ways, to do Your will, not my own, even when I think my way is perfectly reasonable. May I always consult Your Word for my every decision, and always be aware of how Your reputation will fare by my actions. May I seek Your face every moment of every day for my every step in life.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Procrastination
James 4:17
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
How many times have I procrastinated, and not done what I know to do, but put it off? How often have I heard God's "voice" quietly in my spirit, and discounted it as just my own idea, or say, "Yes, I'll do that, after I finish this," then forget about it? How prone I am to "miss the mark" and put my own ideas and agenda before God's clear instructions!
God showed us way back in the beginning of human history that just knowing what was right would not make us do what was right, but put our own wants and desires ahead of everyone and everything else, regardless of the cost. Mankind became so evil and violent in every thought every day, that God sent The Flood, saving Noah to start over with him.
Now God has written His Law right in our hearts, and given us His Spirit to live in us to make us spiritually alive and teach us what is right and strengthen us to follow through with doing what is right. So we really don't have any excuse.
O my Father, thank you for Your endless mercies and amazing grace, to give us Your very Spirit to cleanse us, teach us and strengthen us. Please help me to recognize Your voice as You speak into my spirit; to listen to what You are saying, and to obey You instantly. Remind me to not put off doing what You want me to do, and help me by demolishing all my excuses before I give them. Embolden me to say Your words to those who need to hear them, in compassion and concern, in gentleness and meekness. And may I continue to seek Your face every day until that Day!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
How many times have I procrastinated, and not done what I know to do, but put it off? How often have I heard God's "voice" quietly in my spirit, and discounted it as just my own idea, or say, "Yes, I'll do that, after I finish this," then forget about it? How prone I am to "miss the mark" and put my own ideas and agenda before God's clear instructions!
God showed us way back in the beginning of human history that just knowing what was right would not make us do what was right, but put our own wants and desires ahead of everyone and everything else, regardless of the cost. Mankind became so evil and violent in every thought every day, that God sent The Flood, saving Noah to start over with him.
Now God has written His Law right in our hearts, and given us His Spirit to live in us to make us spiritually alive and teach us what is right and strengthen us to follow through with doing what is right. So we really don't have any excuse.
O my Father, thank you for Your endless mercies and amazing grace, to give us Your very Spirit to cleanse us, teach us and strengthen us. Please help me to recognize Your voice as You speak into my spirit; to listen to what You are saying, and to obey You instantly. Remind me to not put off doing what You want me to do, and help me by demolishing all my excuses before I give them. Embolden me to say Your words to those who need to hear them, in compassion and concern, in gentleness and meekness. And may I continue to seek Your face every day until that Day!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Tempoary Pause
So sorry, my computer is on the fritz, I'll continue to post daily, Lord willing, when it's fixed. Thank you for your patience.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Angry Nations
Psalm 2:1
Why are the Nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
O my Father, the rulers of the Nations of the World really are angry, and plot and plan to rebel against Your benevolent goodness You desire to bestow on them. They have blinded their own eyes and stopped their own ears, lest they see Your salvation and understand Your love for them; and chosen instead to go their own way, making themselves their own gods, deceived and led into bondage by our enemy; calling good evil and evil good.
And even here in this Nation that was founded upon Your very Word and ways, we have strayed so far from Your righteous principles that we are forfeiting so many of the wonderful blessings You have previously bestowed upon us. Please forgive us, and strengthen those who are striving to bring us back to Your righteousness as a Nation; lead and guide them into the right ways, and protect them from the wrath of our enemy, who knows his time is short. Fortify Your fortresses, O Lord, in justice and in mercy, to show the World Your wisdom and compassion, to draw many multitudes to Yourself from every Nation, people, family and language.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Why are the Nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
O my Father, the rulers of the Nations of the World really are angry, and plot and plan to rebel against Your benevolent goodness You desire to bestow on them. They have blinded their own eyes and stopped their own ears, lest they see Your salvation and understand Your love for them; and chosen instead to go their own way, making themselves their own gods, deceived and led into bondage by our enemy; calling good evil and evil good.
And even here in this Nation that was founded upon Your very Word and ways, we have strayed so far from Your righteous principles that we are forfeiting so many of the wonderful blessings You have previously bestowed upon us. Please forgive us, and strengthen those who are striving to bring us back to Your righteousness as a Nation; lead and guide them into the right ways, and protect them from the wrath of our enemy, who knows his time is short. Fortify Your fortresses, O Lord, in justice and in mercy, to show the World Your wisdom and compassion, to draw many multitudes to Yourself from every Nation, people, family and language.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Jabez, "The Pain"
I Chronicles 4: 9-10
There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel , "O that You would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted his request.
Jabez, whose name means "pain," didn't want to "be a pain"! We don't know his genealogy, we aren't even told which tribe he was from; we only know that God answered this prayer of his.
O my Father, I also pray that You would enlarge my "boundaries." Teach me to open up my life to others, and not just live in my own little world. Help me not to "be a pain" in others' lives, but to live up to my name, which means "good," to do good to others, and to be a blessing to them. Show me how to be and stay "in the moment," to be aware of my surroundings and the people You have given to me. Grant me Your compassion so that I will have compassion on others who have not realized that You have blessed them as I have recognized Your abundant blessings in my life. Keep me ever and always mindful of You, Father, and may You receive all the credit, all the honor and glory for what You are doing in, on and through me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel , "O that You would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted his request.
Jabez, whose name means "pain," didn't want to "be a pain"! We don't know his genealogy, we aren't even told which tribe he was from; we only know that God answered this prayer of his.
O my Father, I also pray that You would enlarge my "boundaries." Teach me to open up my life to others, and not just live in my own little world. Help me not to "be a pain" in others' lives, but to live up to my name, which means "good," to do good to others, and to be a blessing to them. Show me how to be and stay "in the moment," to be aware of my surroundings and the people You have given to me. Grant me Your compassion so that I will have compassion on others who have not realized that You have blessed them as I have recognized Your abundant blessings in my life. Keep me ever and always mindful of You, Father, and may You receive all the credit, all the honor and glory for what You are doing in, on and through me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, January 27, 2017
Who Is Your God?
Psalm 135:13
Your Name, O Lord, endures forever; Your fame, O Lord, is known to every generation.
O my Father, what a great and awesome God You are! You are not anything like any other god that has ever been worshiped: They have mouths but cannot speak--You have spoken; they have eyes but cannot see--You have seen me and known me; they have ears but cannot hear--You hear and answer my every prayer when I call to You; they have noses but cannot smell--our prayers waft up into Heaven as a sweet savor, a fragrance like incense to Your nostrils; they have hands but do not handle--Your hands have made all that is; they have feet but do not walk--You, Jesus, have walked this Earth for 33 years; and all who trust in them are like them. (Psalm 115:5-8)
All who trust in them have blinded their own eyes and stopped their own ears and made themselves deaf and dumb, by refusing to acknowledge You or be accountable to You. (John 12:40, quoting Isaiah 6:9-10)
But all who trust in You are becoming more like You: You are forming and molding us into the very image of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29)
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Your Name, O Lord, endures forever; Your fame, O Lord, is known to every generation.
O my Father, what a great and awesome God You are! You are not anything like any other god that has ever been worshiped: They have mouths but cannot speak--You have spoken; they have eyes but cannot see--You have seen me and known me; they have ears but cannot hear--You hear and answer my every prayer when I call to You; they have noses but cannot smell--our prayers waft up into Heaven as a sweet savor, a fragrance like incense to Your nostrils; they have hands but do not handle--Your hands have made all that is; they have feet but do not walk--You, Jesus, have walked this Earth for 33 years; and all who trust in them are like them. (Psalm 115:5-8)
All who trust in them have blinded their own eyes and stopped their own ears and made themselves deaf and dumb, by refusing to acknowledge You or be accountable to You. (John 12:40, quoting Isaiah 6:9-10)
But all who trust in You are becoming more like You: You are forming and molding us into the very image of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29)
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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