Monday, November 28, 2016

Faith, Fear and Sense

One characteristic of genuine faith is to trust God when He does not
make sense: When we cannot understand what He is doing, why He is
doing it, or why He is allowing something we perceive as bad.

Easy to say. Difficult to do--until we learn that He is always right
and always has our good at heart. Always.
  
Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now
  received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have
  now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy
  as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to
  disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. Oh, the depth of
  the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his
  judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (Rom 11:30-33 NIV)

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Please Pray for Me

We all want others to pray for us when we are in need. It is a great
comfort and source of strength to know that we are not alone in our
struggles. However, that also works "the other way around".

A strong principle in Scripture simply expressed is, "Give what you
need." So, as you are praying for your own needs today, ask God who
and what He would have you pray for.
  
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may
  count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may
  fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your
  faith.  We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be
  glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God
  and the Lord Jesus Christ.  (2 Th 1:11-12 NIV)

Thursday, November 17, 2016

What God sees

Have you ever wondered what God saw in you? I certainly have. Still
do. I have not always understood why He chose me, however, I have
learned to trust His choosing. I hope you will for yourself as well.

Our responsibility is as He told Moses: "Now go, and do as I have
told you. I will help you..." He always does. Always will.

"Now go..."

  But Moses pleaded with the LORD, "O Lord, I'm just not a good
  speaker. I never have been, and I'm not now, even after you have
  spoken to me. I'm clumsy with words." "Who makes mouths?" the LORD
  asked him. "Who makes people so they can speak or not speak, hear or
  not hear, see or not see? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go, and do as I
  have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what
  to say." (Exo 4:10-12NLT)

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Creatures of Habits

We humans tend to be creatures of habit. We like to learn how to do
something, then repeat, repeat, repeat. But that is not always wise
in spiritual matters.

What God said or did yesterday is not necessarily what He will say
or do today--or how He will say or do it. The habit that always
works? Listen. Every time. Every decision. Get the word for "now".
  
Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you out to preach the Good News
  and you did not have money, a traveler's bag, or extra clothing, did
  you lack anything?" "No," they replied. "But now," he said, "take
  your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell
  your clothes and buy one! (Luke 22:35-36 NLT)

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Final

Death is the most "final" thing we encounter in this life. Yet, for
God, even death is not "final".

What is "final" for Him? The only thing I know of is our failure to
believe Him. And if we overcome our failure to believe, then for us
nothing is "final" because we are in His continuum of possibilities.

Jesus said, "Everything is possible for him who believes."
  When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come
  out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips
  of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off
  the grave clothes and let him go." (John 11:43-44 NIV)

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Excuses Excuses

"...and out came this calf!" What a story! What audacity! I don't
know about you, but I believe I would feel insulted if someone
expected me to believe such a tale.

If we are honest, most of us would have to admit that we make
excuses for sin today that are no more ridiculous than Aaron's--
especially to ourselves, and by implication, to God.

God gives us grace--but that is no excuse for or license to sin.
Read Romans 6. My thoughts: God has freed us from the penalty
(death), but we are responsible for our relationship with Him.
  
After that, he turned to Aaron. "What did the people do to you?" he
  demanded. "How did they ever make you bring such terrible sin upon
  them?" "Don't get upset, sir," Aaron replied. "You yourself know
  these people and what a wicked bunch they are. They said to me,
  'Make us some gods to lead us, for something has happened to this
  man Moses, who led us out of Egypt.'  So I told them, 'Bring me your
  gold earrings.' When they brought them to me, I threw them into the
  fire--and out came this calf!" (Exo 32:21-24 NLT)