The heavens tell the glory of God. ( Psalm 19:1)
How vital that we pray, armed with the knowledge that God is in heaven. Pray with any lesser conviction and your prayers are timid, shallow, and hollow. But spend some time walking in the workshop of the heavens, seeing what God has done, and watch how your prayers are energized.....
Behold the sun! Every square yard of the sun is constantly emitting 130,000 horse power, or the equivalent of 450 eight-cylinder automobile engines. And yet our sun, as powerful as it is, is but one minor star in the 100 billion orbs which make up our Milky Way Galax. Hold a dime in your fingers and extend it arm's length toward the sky, allowing it to eclipse your vision, and you will block out fifteen million stars from your view....By showing us the heavens, Jesus is showing us his Father's workshop....He taps us on the shoulder and says, " Your Father can handle that for you."
Monday, February 12, 2018
I AM EVER SO NEAR YOU
I am ever so near you, hovering over your shoulder, reading every thought. People think that thoughts are fleeting and worthless, but yours are precious to Me. I smile when you think lovingly of Me. My Spirit, who lives within you, helps you to think My thoughts. As your thinking goes, so goes your entire being.
Let Me be your positive Focus. When you look to Me, knowing Me as God with you, you experience Joy. This is according to My ancient design, when I first crafted man. Modern man seeks his positive focus elsewhere: in sports, sensations, acquiring new possessions. Advertising capitalizes on the longing of people for a positive focus in their lives. I planted that longing in human souls, knowing that only I could fully satisfy it. Delight yourself in Me; let Me become the Desire of your heart.
Matthew 1:23; Psalm 37:4
Let Me be your positive Focus. When you look to Me, knowing Me as God with you, you experience Joy. This is according to My ancient design, when I first crafted man. Modern man seeks his positive focus elsewhere: in sports, sensations, acquiring new possessions. Advertising capitalizes on the longing of people for a positive focus in their lives. I planted that longing in human souls, knowing that only I could fully satisfy it. Delight yourself in Me; let Me become the Desire of your heart.
Matthew 1:23; Psalm 37:4
Trust Me
After graduation from college, I had a low-paying job. Money was tight, and sometimes I didn't even have enough money for my next meal. I learned to trust God for my daily provision.
It reminded me of the prophet Elijah's experience. During his prophetic ministry, he learned to trust God to meet his daily needs. Shortly after Elijah pronounced God's judgment of a drought in Israel, God sent him to a deserted place, Kerith Ravine, where He used the ravens to bring Elijah his daily meals and refresh him with water from the brook.
But a drought occurred. The brook shrank to a tiny stream, and slowly became a mere trickle. It was only when the brook had dried up that God said: " Go at once to Zarephath....I have directed a widow there to supply you with food." Zarephath was in Phoenicia, whose inhabitants were enemies of the Israelites. Would anyone offer Elijah shelter? And would a poor widow have food to share?
Most of us would rather God provided in abundance long before our resources were depleted rather than just enough for each day. But our loving Father whispers, Trust Me. Just as He used ravens and a widow to provide for Elijah, nothing is impossible for Him. We can count on His love and power to meet our daily needs.
Faithful Father, we thank You for knowing exactly what we need before we even ask. Help us to trust You for our daily needs.
God supplies all our needs-one day at a time.
It reminded me of the prophet Elijah's experience. During his prophetic ministry, he learned to trust God to meet his daily needs. Shortly after Elijah pronounced God's judgment of a drought in Israel, God sent him to a deserted place, Kerith Ravine, where He used the ravens to bring Elijah his daily meals and refresh him with water from the brook.
But a drought occurred. The brook shrank to a tiny stream, and slowly became a mere trickle. It was only when the brook had dried up that God said: " Go at once to Zarephath....I have directed a widow there to supply you with food." Zarephath was in Phoenicia, whose inhabitants were enemies of the Israelites. Would anyone offer Elijah shelter? And would a poor widow have food to share?
Most of us would rather God provided in abundance long before our resources were depleted rather than just enough for each day. But our loving Father whispers, Trust Me. Just as He used ravens and a widow to provide for Elijah, nothing is impossible for Him. We can count on His love and power to meet our daily needs.
Faithful Father, we thank You for knowing exactly what we need before we even ask. Help us to trust You for our daily needs.
God supplies all our needs-one day at a time.
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Sucker Punches
Temptation:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything....
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those love him.
When tempted, no one should say, " God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives to death.
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers....
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Scripture:
James 1:2-4, 12-16;
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Defining Moments:
Satan didn't sleep through your salvation experience. Your sudden departure from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light sent off warning flares in his security division. He set a strategic plan in motion to make sure your faith gets lost on its way to your lifestyle.
So never underestimate the depths of his deceit. He knows a lot about you, for sure. But we know a few things about him.
For one, we know that God has limited the reach of Satan's temptations. The devil may hold the night stick, but God holds the leash. And God can even turn those schemes to your advantage, using them to toughen muscles in your character and open your eyes to place where you're trusting self instead of trusting God.
Remember, too, that temptation isn't sin. It just feels like it. And nowhere in the whole process are you forced to comply--even if you're not quick enough to douse the first flicker of Satan's finesse.
He can quicken your own desire. But he can't make you do anything. Don't believe a word he says.
Next Up:
BUt no matter how hard you try, even though you know God's forgiven you, you still carry the guilt of things you've done in the past. Where does that go to die?
Quote:
" The devil knows that if he can get our minds to dwell on certain sins, then it will be just a matter of time before those sins are acted out." -Greg Laurrie
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything....
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those love him.
When tempted, no one should say, " God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives to death.
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers....
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Scripture:
James 1:2-4, 12-16;
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Defining Moments:
Satan didn't sleep through your salvation experience. Your sudden departure from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light sent off warning flares in his security division. He set a strategic plan in motion to make sure your faith gets lost on its way to your lifestyle.
So never underestimate the depths of his deceit. He knows a lot about you, for sure. But we know a few things about him.
For one, we know that God has limited the reach of Satan's temptations. The devil may hold the night stick, but God holds the leash. And God can even turn those schemes to your advantage, using them to toughen muscles in your character and open your eyes to place where you're trusting self instead of trusting God.
Remember, too, that temptation isn't sin. It just feels like it. And nowhere in the whole process are you forced to comply--even if you're not quick enough to douse the first flicker of Satan's finesse.
He can quicken your own desire. But he can't make you do anything. Don't believe a word he says.
Next Up:
BUt no matter how hard you try, even though you know God's forgiven you, you still carry the guilt of things you've done in the past. Where does that go to die?
Quote:
" The devil knows that if he can get our minds to dwell on certain sins, then it will be just a matter of time before those sins are acted out." -Greg Laurrie
God Always Gives Grace
God can do all things. ( Mark 10:27)
Our questions betray our lack of understanding:
How can God be everywhere at one time? ( Who says God is bound by a body?)
How can God hear all the prayers which come to him? ( Perhaps his ears are different from yours.)
How can God be the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? ( Could it be that heaven has a different set of physics than earth?)
If people down here won't forgive me, how much more am I guilty before a holy God? ( Oh, just the opposite. God is always able to give grace when we humans can't-he invented it.)
Our questions betray our lack of understanding:
How can God be everywhere at one time? ( Who says God is bound by a body?)
How can God hear all the prayers which come to him? ( Perhaps his ears are different from yours.)
How can God be the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? ( Could it be that heaven has a different set of physics than earth?)
If people down here won't forgive me, how much more am I guilty before a holy God? ( Oh, just the opposite. God is always able to give grace when we humans can't-he invented it.)
Come To Me And Rest
Come To Me And Rest. I am all around you, to bless and restore. Breathe Me in with each breath. The way just ahead of you is very steep. Slow down and cling tightly to My hand. I am teaching you a difficult lesson, learned only by hardship.
Lift up empty hands of faith to receive My prescious Presence. Light, Life, Joy, and Peace flow freely through this gift. When your focus turns away from Me, you grasp for other things. You drop the glowing gift of My Presence as you reach for lifeless ashes. Return to Me; regain My Presence.
Matthew 11:28-29; 1 Timothy 2:8
Lift up empty hands of faith to receive My prescious Presence. Light, Life, Joy, and Peace flow freely through this gift. When your focus turns away from Me, you grasp for other things. You drop the glowing gift of My Presence as you reach for lifeless ashes. Return to Me; regain My Presence.
Matthew 11:28-29; 1 Timothy 2:8
Praising Through Problems
" It's cancer," I wanted to be strong when Mom said those words to me. But I burst into tears. You never want to hear those words even one time. But this was Mom's third bout with cancer. After a routine mammogram and biopsy, Mom learned that she had a malignant tumor under her arm. Though Mom was the one with bad news, she had to comfort me. Her response was eye-opening for me: " I know God is always good to me. He's always faithful." Even as she faced a difficult surgery, followed up by radiation treatments, Mom was assured of God's presence and faithfulness.
How like Job. Job lost his children, his wealth, and his health. But after hearing the news, Job 1:20 tells us " he fell to the ground in worship." When advised to curse God, he said, " Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" What a radical initial response. Though Job later complained, ultimately he accepted that God had never changed. Job knew that God was still with him and that He still cared.
For most of us, praise is not our first response to difficulties. Sometimes, the pain of our circumstances is so overwhelming, we lash out in fear or anger. But watching Mom's response reminded me that God is still present, still good. He will help us through hard times.
Lord, prepare me for the times when we praise is most difficult to utter.
Even at our lowest point, we can lift our eyes to the Lord.
How like Job. Job lost his children, his wealth, and his health. But after hearing the news, Job 1:20 tells us " he fell to the ground in worship." When advised to curse God, he said, " Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" What a radical initial response. Though Job later complained, ultimately he accepted that God had never changed. Job knew that God was still with him and that He still cared.
For most of us, praise is not our first response to difficulties. Sometimes, the pain of our circumstances is so overwhelming, we lash out in fear or anger. But watching Mom's response reminded me that God is still present, still good. He will help us through hard times.
Lord, prepare me for the times when we praise is most difficult to utter.
Even at our lowest point, we can lift our eyes to the Lord.
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