Read 1 Peter 5:7
Although we may know this verse in 1 Peter by memory, when we reflect on the life situations we've faced over the past year it doesn't make it any easier to handle does it? While God wants you and I to cast all our anxiety on Him because He cares for us, we often have a difficult time with this because what we've faced has been so difficult.
Anyone had a tough year? 2011 may have been a tough time but God is bigger than everything we've faced and He will ultimately redeem it for His own glory. The hard part, at least for me, is figuring out how. How is He going to redeem it? And when? You know what I mean?
Listen, writing this doesn't mean I get it right every time. Truth is what I write is more often than not something I'm continuing to learn and apply in my own life. But maybe together we can be encouraged and be reminded of the faithfulness of our God. He is not only faithul but He's able to do much more than all we think, ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Wisdom
Read 1 Kings 3:1-15
Solomon was made King after his father David's death. God appeared to Solomon and said, "Ask! What shall I give you?"
What would you ask from God if He were to tell you what He told Solomon? I'm not sure about you and I but Solomon made a decision packed with wisdom. He asked God for an understanding and discerning heart to judge God's people so that he would know what is good and evil. Friends we see something in Solomon that we often don't see in people today; and that's the willingness to admit his shortcomings. Earlier in the text he said "since I am only a child" I'm asking you God for your wisdom to help me rule over your people. He didn't allow his position to blind him from the fact that he needed God's wisdom to do what is right.
The same is true for us. We need God's wisdom in every area of our lives. The case can be made that we are either following God's wisdom or the world's wisdom in every decision we make. Choosing to make wise decisions begins with acknowledging God is wiser and much more capable of helping us with everything we face in this life. But then it continues with all of us recognizing our need for God one moment at a time in every situation we find ourselves.
Be in prayer that our wisdom comes from heaven above not just some of the time, but all of the time.
Solomon was made King after his father David's death. God appeared to Solomon and said, "Ask! What shall I give you?"
What would you ask from God if He were to tell you what He told Solomon? I'm not sure about you and I but Solomon made a decision packed with wisdom. He asked God for an understanding and discerning heart to judge God's people so that he would know what is good and evil. Friends we see something in Solomon that we often don't see in people today; and that's the willingness to admit his shortcomings. Earlier in the text he said "since I am only a child" I'm asking you God for your wisdom to help me rule over your people. He didn't allow his position to blind him from the fact that he needed God's wisdom to do what is right.
The same is true for us. We need God's wisdom in every area of our lives. The case can be made that we are either following God's wisdom or the world's wisdom in every decision we make. Choosing to make wise decisions begins with acknowledging God is wiser and much more capable of helping us with everything we face in this life. But then it continues with all of us recognizing our need for God one moment at a time in every situation we find ourselves.
Be in prayer that our wisdom comes from heaven above not just some of the time, but all of the time.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Why are You here?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:11-17
Have you ever asked that question? Why am I here? The apostle Paul thought he knew why he was here. We can look at his life in the book of Acts and see that he was heading down a path of power and devotion against Christians and then God got a hold of him and turned his life around.
Take a look at 1 Corinthians 11-17. Here we find Paul telling the Corinthians that Christ didn't send him to baptize believers but to preach the gospel. Paul went from being an enemy to an ambassador for Christ. Paul was crystal clear why he was here - to preach the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.
I'll ask it again - why are You here? God has equipped every one of us with different gifts and personalities, and He's given us different experiences and opportunities. What each of us needs to do is realize like Paul why we are here. The short answer is - we are here to give glory, honor and praise to Jesus with our lives. The long answer, now that's specific to each and every person along with what and how God plans to use us.
Last few questions, do you know your answer to this question? If you do are you living it out? If you don't know why you are here, are you willing to take a chance and trust one day at a time that maybe for you your first acknowledgment needs to be this Christmas season is that maybe you are here to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ? If you're still not sure why you are here - please ask God, talk with Him and ask Him to show you His son. Visit a local church like Hope Community Church that teaches the word of God and who Jesus is.
May this season be a season in your life that you come to truly engage why you are here.
Have you ever asked that question? Why am I here? The apostle Paul thought he knew why he was here. We can look at his life in the book of Acts and see that he was heading down a path of power and devotion against Christians and then God got a hold of him and turned his life around.
Take a look at 1 Corinthians 11-17. Here we find Paul telling the Corinthians that Christ didn't send him to baptize believers but to preach the gospel. Paul went from being an enemy to an ambassador for Christ. Paul was crystal clear why he was here - to preach the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.
I'll ask it again - why are You here? God has equipped every one of us with different gifts and personalities, and He's given us different experiences and opportunities. What each of us needs to do is realize like Paul why we are here. The short answer is - we are here to give glory, honor and praise to Jesus with our lives. The long answer, now that's specific to each and every person along with what and how God plans to use us.
Last few questions, do you know your answer to this question? If you do are you living it out? If you don't know why you are here, are you willing to take a chance and trust one day at a time that maybe for you your first acknowledgment needs to be this Christmas season is that maybe you are here to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ? If you're still not sure why you are here - please ask God, talk with Him and ask Him to show you His son. Visit a local church like Hope Community Church that teaches the word of God and who Jesus is.
May this season be a season in your life that you come to truly engage why you are here.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Seized with fear
Read Acts 19:11-20
A little known story happens in Acts 19:11-20 that should cause every follower of Jesus to take notice. We should be seized with fear just like the men in this story anytime we invoke the name of Jesus, without it actually being God's power.
This can be a difficult thing to discern but what we learn from this text is this: be sure if you are making claims and requests such as these Seven Sons of Sceva where they said - "In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." You see these men weren't men of God, they were claiming power they didn't have; they were claiming ability which only God can give to drive out demons and heal illnesses.
While we don't see people too often making these claims these days, it's important for us to be aware, to be aware that we follow God; He doesn't follow us. When we pray and act in His name be sure it is by His power and name that we are operating under. He is our Lord and our Savior. Let's remember to Him belongs all the glory, honor and praise.
A little known story happens in Acts 19:11-20 that should cause every follower of Jesus to take notice. We should be seized with fear just like the men in this story anytime we invoke the name of Jesus, without it actually being God's power.
This can be a difficult thing to discern but what we learn from this text is this: be sure if you are making claims and requests such as these Seven Sons of Sceva where they said - "In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." You see these men weren't men of God, they were claiming power they didn't have; they were claiming ability which only God can give to drive out demons and heal illnesses.
While we don't see people too often making these claims these days, it's important for us to be aware, to be aware that we follow God; He doesn't follow us. When we pray and act in His name be sure it is by His power and name that we are operating under. He is our Lord and our Savior. Let's remember to Him belongs all the glory, honor and praise.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Living it out
Read Romans 13:8-14
The law of love is expressed in Romans 13:8-14. It's a law of continuing in the debt of loving one another because when we love one another we fulfill the law. Paul tells the Romans the commands are summed up in this one rule - Love your neighbor as yourself.
Wouldn't life really be a whole lot simpler if we really understood this godly principle and lived it out with the power and help of the Holy Spirit? Now let's be honest, life isn't all that simple because people have issues. You have issues, I have issues, everybody has issues. But Paul concludes his thoughts this way - whatever happens let's clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is our foundation and our strength; our hope and our ability to living it out - the law of love.
The only ongoing debt we are told in Scripture to keep is this continuing debt to love one another. A word of caution - loving others doesn't always mean we do what they want, give what they want, jump when they say jump. Loving others is taking the word of God, listening and learning and following the Spirit of God as He directs you and me to live out our faith. There is no formula for what this looks like, when to act or when not to. But there is the word of God that informs and instructs and tells us what we need to know to live holy and godly lives. Loving God and loving people is what our faith is all about. Follow Him in actions and attitudes and trust that God will lead us to live it out one day at a time.
The law of love is expressed in Romans 13:8-14. It's a law of continuing in the debt of loving one another because when we love one another we fulfill the law. Paul tells the Romans the commands are summed up in this one rule - Love your neighbor as yourself.
Wouldn't life really be a whole lot simpler if we really understood this godly principle and lived it out with the power and help of the Holy Spirit? Now let's be honest, life isn't all that simple because people have issues. You have issues, I have issues, everybody has issues. But Paul concludes his thoughts this way - whatever happens let's clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is our foundation and our strength; our hope and our ability to living it out - the law of love.
The only ongoing debt we are told in Scripture to keep is this continuing debt to love one another. A word of caution - loving others doesn't always mean we do what they want, give what they want, jump when they say jump. Loving others is taking the word of God, listening and learning and following the Spirit of God as He directs you and me to live out our faith. There is no formula for what this looks like, when to act or when not to. But there is the word of God that informs and instructs and tells us what we need to know to live holy and godly lives. Loving God and loving people is what our faith is all about. Follow Him in actions and attitudes and trust that God will lead us to live it out one day at a time.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Generous on Every Occasion
Read 2 Corinthians 6:9-11
God's desire is that on every occasion we would be generous with what we have. This biblical principle reflects the character and nature of God. As followers it should also reflect our character and nature as believers desiring to be the people God wants us to be.
So what gets in our way? What blocks us from being generous with what God has freely blessed us with? While the answers abound, the few that come immediately to mind are selfishness and mindlessness. So often we get wrapped up in our own lives and what we need and want that we forget about others. It happens more than we'd like to admit. And quite frankly, we focus on ourselves with our needs and wants while missing that so many of us are blessed beyond belief.
One of the real dilemmas we face is we think this is about the other guy. We think it's the other guy who is blessed beyond belief while we are just trying to get by. However, when we stop and evaluate our abundance it's a quick reminder that we have so much in life and God wants us to bless others so that they might come to know Him. Listen, we're talking about blessing others so that through generosity the result will be thanksgiving to God. Let's not ever miss that.
This Thanksgiving - consider how you might be a blessing to others. Maybe it's through a physical need, an emotional need, a relational need or some combination of the these needs. Whatever it is - be generous on every occasion because God is good; because God is worthy to be praised. So let's live our lives with generosity on every occasion giving thanks to God in every way possible.
God's desire is that on every occasion we would be generous with what we have. This biblical principle reflects the character and nature of God. As followers it should also reflect our character and nature as believers desiring to be the people God wants us to be.
So what gets in our way? What blocks us from being generous with what God has freely blessed us with? While the answers abound, the few that come immediately to mind are selfishness and mindlessness. So often we get wrapped up in our own lives and what we need and want that we forget about others. It happens more than we'd like to admit. And quite frankly, we focus on ourselves with our needs and wants while missing that so many of us are blessed beyond belief.
One of the real dilemmas we face is we think this is about the other guy. We think it's the other guy who is blessed beyond belief while we are just trying to get by. However, when we stop and evaluate our abundance it's a quick reminder that we have so much in life and God wants us to bless others so that they might come to know Him. Listen, we're talking about blessing others so that through generosity the result will be thanksgiving to God. Let's not ever miss that.
This Thanksgiving - consider how you might be a blessing to others. Maybe it's through a physical need, an emotional need, a relational need or some combination of the these needs. Whatever it is - be generous on every occasion because God is good; because God is worthy to be praised. So let's live our lives with generosity on every occasion giving thanks to God in every way possible.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Know that I am God
Read Psalm 46
We are so inundated with life and all the happenings going on around us that we get so caught up in our lives that we forget these important words in Psalm 46:10.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
Listen knowing God is the greatest, most important thing you and I can ever do. Who He is and how we respond determines everything about us. His proclamation - I will be exalted above the nation, I will be exalted in the earth - is so important for you and I to meditate about. He will be exalted - period.
May the prayer of our life be that we exalt Him with our actions and attitudes. May others see us and see a reflection of who God is because we follow the exalted and Most High God.
We are so inundated with life and all the happenings going on around us that we get so caught up in our lives that we forget these important words in Psalm 46:10.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
Listen knowing God is the greatest, most important thing you and I can ever do. Who He is and how we respond determines everything about us. His proclamation - I will be exalted above the nation, I will be exalted in the earth - is so important for you and I to meditate about. He will be exalted - period.
May the prayer of our life be that we exalt Him with our actions and attitudes. May others see us and see a reflection of who God is because we follow the exalted and Most High God.
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