Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? Genesis 18:14
God sometimes strategically engineers delays. During the delay things may seem more and more improbable, unsolvable, and you may be tempted to take matters into your own hands. Rather, choose to wait on the Lord and put your full trust in the Lord--both are best.
Bring into your mind the experiences of Sarah and Abraham. God had promised them children. Both of them aged gracefully but they got old. Doubts tried to dispel confidence- doubts that lowered their faith. They were stuck in a delay until the right time, the time in which God had right.
God had to remind them that wonderful can happen because God’s promises are always kept, although there may be a delay. If a delay is occurring for you it may be that God is setting the stage for a special time in your life. Trust the Lord while you wait and expect God's wonderful.
6.30.2008
5.26.2008
How To Finish It
Being confident of this very thing, that God which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
There are times when it is challenging to finish what we start- perhaps the final exam is before you and you've tired of studying, or you have a group that you belong to and your energy to participate is waning, or you have that business task that you have been putting off. You just cannot get motived.
A large community of people felt just as you feel right now. God had brought the nation of Israel out of Egypt, delivered them from slavery and persecution, and God desired to bring them to freedom in the promised land. Many times through their journey the people felt like they didn't want to go on anymore, didn't want to finish, and they tired of the hardships and struggles. But even when their motivations sunk to the lowest God's didn't, and God finished through them what had begun.
God did this because God visualizes those He loves as a finished product. God cherishes you, understands, and doesn't give up halfway. He sees you as a finished product. With patient desire God wants you to allow Jesus to help you. Ask Jesus and you will receive His help- understanding and motivation to finish what you have started.
There are times when it is challenging to finish what we start- perhaps the final exam is before you and you've tired of studying, or you have a group that you belong to and your energy to participate is waning, or you have that business task that you have been putting off. You just cannot get motived.
A large community of people felt just as you feel right now. God had brought the nation of Israel out of Egypt, delivered them from slavery and persecution, and God desired to bring them to freedom in the promised land. Many times through their journey the people felt like they didn't want to go on anymore, didn't want to finish, and they tired of the hardships and struggles. But even when their motivations sunk to the lowest God's didn't, and God finished through them what had begun.
God did this because God visualizes those He loves as a finished product. God cherishes you, understands, and doesn't give up halfway. He sees you as a finished product. With patient desire God wants you to allow Jesus to help you. Ask Jesus and you will receive His help- understanding and motivation to finish what you have started.
Captian
Jesus said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Mark 4:40
Soon Jesus would ask His disciples the all important question, "Who do you say I am?" (8:29), and to help prepare them for this question He demonstrates His unlimited power over the natural world. Here, Jesus and His disciples push off from the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. They didn't know yet that they would need Him but He knew.
They encounter an unexpectedly heavy storm. This storm is extremely dangerous and the seafaring disciples understand this about their predicament. They are confident until the full effect of the storm hits and then the violent waves threaten to sink their boat and take their lives.
Yet Jesus is not merely a passenger, He is Captain. The disciples claim Him as Captain of their lives as He says, "Quiet! Be still!!" to the storm, and suddenly there is complete calm. The Captain was showing them then... and us now, that whatever happens, have faith in Him. Faith without fear. He is Captain of the living and the dead.
Soon Jesus would ask His disciples the all important question, "Who do you say I am?" (8:29), and to help prepare them for this question He demonstrates His unlimited power over the natural world. Here, Jesus and His disciples push off from the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. They didn't know yet that they would need Him but He knew.
They encounter an unexpectedly heavy storm. This storm is extremely dangerous and the seafaring disciples understand this about their predicament. They are confident until the full effect of the storm hits and then the violent waves threaten to sink their boat and take their lives.
Yet Jesus is not merely a passenger, He is Captain. The disciples claim Him as Captain of their lives as He says, "Quiet! Be still!!" to the storm, and suddenly there is complete calm. The Captain was showing them then... and us now, that whatever happens, have faith in Him. Faith without fear. He is Captain of the living and the dead.
About Face
"What shall I do, Lord?" I asked. (Saul) Acts 22:10
"About Face!" We hear that then we turn around and march in the opposite direction. Jesus may give any one of us an "about face,' At a time soon after Jesus blessed believers with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Saul was going the wrong direction in his life. He was persecuting and killing Christians because he honestly thought it was the right thing to do. The dramatic story surrounding our Scripture tells of an antagonist who about-faced into discipleship.
After the about face he loved Christians, loved them so much he was constantly interpreting the Good News of Christ into their lives and inspiring them with his sure faith. With Jesus' help he spoke to Christians about their diversity, bold living, and encouraged them to see themselves as the people of the Lord's way, not the world's defining way. From the moment the Lord entered his heart he then encountered his greatest problems, persecution, and pains.
Someone must have wondered how he felt about these because he said that he counted these his greatest blessings in consideration of all that the Lord had done for him, and us, giving His life on the cross for us. Jesus' suffering, death, Resurrection, and then the gift of His presence with us by the Holy Spirit have 'about faced' untold numbers of people. Jesus changed Saul's name to Paul, marking his changed life and new purpose. When the Lord speaks, "About Face," the remarkable happens.
"About Face!" We hear that then we turn around and march in the opposite direction. Jesus may give any one of us an "about face,' At a time soon after Jesus blessed believers with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Saul was going the wrong direction in his life. He was persecuting and killing Christians because he honestly thought it was the right thing to do. The dramatic story surrounding our Scripture tells of an antagonist who about-faced into discipleship.
After the about face he loved Christians, loved them so much he was constantly interpreting the Good News of Christ into their lives and inspiring them with his sure faith. With Jesus' help he spoke to Christians about their diversity, bold living, and encouraged them to see themselves as the people of the Lord's way, not the world's defining way. From the moment the Lord entered his heart he then encountered his greatest problems, persecution, and pains.
Someone must have wondered how he felt about these because he said that he counted these his greatest blessings in consideration of all that the Lord had done for him, and us, giving His life on the cross for us. Jesus' suffering, death, Resurrection, and then the gift of His presence with us by the Holy Spirit have 'about faced' untold numbers of people. Jesus changed Saul's name to Paul, marking his changed life and new purpose. When the Lord speaks, "About Face," the remarkable happens.
3.28.2008
Be The Fourth
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for others ... Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" 1 John 3:16,18
Someone has said that the reason for the crucifixion of the Son of God is that three out of every four people will hurt you if given an opportunity. Only one in four is genuinely kind and willing to help. So then, we have the privilege of being the fourth persons in each set, to act without fear of the closeness of loving compassion exemplified by Christ.
To move in close to one another calls for us to let down our shields that we pull up tight to cover our hearts like the Roman guards that confined Jesus. These shields may be memories of past hurts or anticipation that someone is going to wrong you. Raising your shield up may join you with the three in the set. Be the fourth. Lay them down.
The people who sentenced Jesus to die presumed Him guilty without proven innocence. They sought to hurt Him but missed Him by a mile. He was genuinely kind and was willing to help us know God's heart by laying down His life so that you know what love is, it is Jesus Christ.
Someone has said that the reason for the crucifixion of the Son of God is that three out of every four people will hurt you if given an opportunity. Only one in four is genuinely kind and willing to help. So then, we have the privilege of being the fourth persons in each set, to act without fear of the closeness of loving compassion exemplified by Christ.
To move in close to one another calls for us to let down our shields that we pull up tight to cover our hearts like the Roman guards that confined Jesus. These shields may be memories of past hurts or anticipation that someone is going to wrong you. Raising your shield up may join you with the three in the set. Be the fourth. Lay them down.
The people who sentenced Jesus to die presumed Him guilty without proven innocence. They sought to hurt Him but missed Him by a mile. He was genuinely kind and was willing to help us know God's heart by laying down His life so that you know what love is, it is Jesus Christ.
2.28.2008
Got Your Back
The Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Isaiah 52:12
As Jesus was deep in prayer in Gethsemane He was counting on the disciples to 'watch and pray.' They were to guard His back but they fell asleep. Even though not one of the disciples was watching out for His safety He was watched over by God- God had His back.
As you draw near to God in prayer Jesus has your back. He understands. Go forward with God's goodness in confidence. You can depend on Him.
As Jesus was deep in prayer in Gethsemane He was counting on the disciples to 'watch and pray.' They were to guard His back but they fell asleep. Even though not one of the disciples was watching out for His safety He was watched over by God- God had His back.
As you draw near to God in prayer Jesus has your back. He understands. Go forward with God's goodness in confidence. You can depend on Him.
2.19.2008
Humor (sent in by AlphaChurch.org member)
J. Paul Getty - "The meek shall inherit the Earth, but not its mineral rights."
In Case of Accident or Anxiety
Jesus said: As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. John 15:9
She was dreading facing her husband. Carl was sympathetic but felt he had to pursue the exchange of license and registration data. She reached into her glove compartment to retrieve the documents which were in an envelope. On the first paper, written in her husband's distinctive handwriting were these words: In case of accident remember, honey, it's you I love, not the car.
In the midst of anxiety we too can forget about love. You do your best to get the task before you accomplished as well as possible and you work hard while knowing that you're going to be so glad when it is complete. When something goes wrong along the way it can feel like everything is wrecked, yet only a portion of the whole needs your focused attention to mend it and make it right again. It is at a time like this that there in the glove compartment of John's gospel, chapter 15, waiting for you are words spoken from the heart of Jesus: kid, it's you I love, always.
Paul Harvey told a story about a man named Carl who was driving to work one morning when he bumped fenders with another motorist. Both cars stopped, and the woman driving the other car got out to survey the damage. She was distraught. It was her fault, she admitted, and hers was a new car less than two days old from the showroom floor.
She was dreading facing her husband. Carl was sympathetic but felt he had to pursue the exchange of license and registration data. She reached into her glove compartment to retrieve the documents which were in an envelope. On the first paper, written in her husband's distinctive handwriting were these words: In case of accident remember, honey, it's you I love, not the car.
In the midst of anxiety we too can forget about love. You do your best to get the task before you accomplished as well as possible and you work hard while knowing that you're going to be so glad when it is complete. When something goes wrong along the way it can feel like everything is wrecked, yet only a portion of the whole needs your focused attention to mend it and make it right again. It is at a time like this that there in the glove compartment of John's gospel, chapter 15, waiting for you are words spoken from the heart of Jesus: kid, it's you I love, always.
11.28.2007
Advent on the Horizon
On Sunday, December 2nd, the first Sunday in Advent will meet up with us. String the lights on your house and turn them on, put up the Christmas tree, set the nativity scene in a prominent place, and invite friends over for Advent cheer. The 'cheer' of Advent is in the anticipation of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
The word 'Advent' is taken from the Latin word avenio which means the coming of Christ our Savior.
Sunday is the day to begin reading one chapter a day of the Gospel of Luke-- it has 24 chapters and I think that you'll find Luke the Physician's stories of Jesus nothing short of remarkable and awesome!
9.26.2006
Our First Job Today
C.S. Lewis, in his book Joy in His Presence, writes: "The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that Other voice, taking that Other point of view, letting that Other larger, stronger, quieter Life come flowing in. And so on, all day."
Our first job in the morning, throughout the day and into the night is letting quieter Life flow into our thoughts. Christ is quiet Life. This sensitivity to Him, my friend, will allow a different view, His holy view, into all that approaches or confronts you.
Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He will act. Psalm 37:5
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