“Let your speech be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Never say never. Do you recognize that cliché? Have you ever experienced a time when you have been let down because somebody else failed to follow through? Maybe you can remember a boyfriend/girlfriend who promised to be with you always, never to leave you for another? Where are they today? It is no wonder we believe so strongly in this saying.
God said never! The difference here is that God is not a man. That means God is not capable of failing, thus he has the power to fulfill his statements when he says never. When he promises to never leave you, then he is always present. There are times when he appears to be very distant, but it is at those times you must have faith in his promise. Remember, God said never.
Do you ever feel alone? God is with you. Have you ever felt the heartache of close friends or loved ones bailing out on you when you needed them most? God said he would never forsake you. No matter what troubles you face. No matter how much you have hurt God. He promised never to leave nor forsake you. God is always there waiting to hear from you. When was the last time you let him know how much you appreciate his loyalty?
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Rejoicement! Praise God Again!
I just wanted to let you know another young man got saved this afternoon. My wife and I were able to spend time with him, then prayed with him as he got started on the path to Heaven. God is awesome! There are a few of you who have been praying for this young man and I want you to know that your prayers accomplished their mission. Now let's pray God will keep David and help him to grow.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Psalms 103:11
"For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him."
In another place we deal with the mercy of God, but here we want to focus on the expanse of his mercy. Have you ever laid on the ground at night and starred into the vast sky? How many stars could you count? Did you ever see which star is furthest away? The closest star Alpha Centuri, is so far away that if you took the largest telescope on earth and looked back towards earth you wouldn’t see it!
God likened his mercy to the sky or heavens. Today, science is still not able to comprehend the end of it. In like manner, you, or a biblical scholar, are not able to comprehend the depths of his mercy. Have you ever felt like you have done something so bad or so much that even God could not forgive you. All your sins could not begin to compare with the multitude of stars. For more glorious is the thought that God’s mercy is greater than the multitude of stars and the space that separates each of them.
The next time you start to feel guilty about your past or something you confessed to God, stop and look into the sky. Consider where it ends and you are on your way to understanding how much mercy God has for you. Don’t let the devil cheat you into thinking you have exhausted the mercy of God.
In another place we deal with the mercy of God, but here we want to focus on the expanse of his mercy. Have you ever laid on the ground at night and starred into the vast sky? How many stars could you count? Did you ever see which star is furthest away? The closest star Alpha Centuri, is so far away that if you took the largest telescope on earth and looked back towards earth you wouldn’t see it!
God likened his mercy to the sky or heavens. Today, science is still not able to comprehend the end of it. In like manner, you, or a biblical scholar, are not able to comprehend the depths of his mercy. Have you ever felt like you have done something so bad or so much that even God could not forgive you. All your sins could not begin to compare with the multitude of stars. For more glorious is the thought that God’s mercy is greater than the multitude of stars and the space that separates each of them.
The next time you start to feel guilty about your past or something you confessed to God, stop and look into the sky. Consider where it ends and you are on your way to understanding how much mercy God has for you. Don’t let the devil cheat you into thinking you have exhausted the mercy of God.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Psalms 84:11 (Promise #3)
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: he giveth grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
How well I remember my fist real paycheck. I had worked two full weeks in hopes of proving my worth. I was so eager that I picked it up right after school, I forget but I may have even skipped my last class to get there sooner. My ideas of independent wealth were wiped away when I first realized legalized theft in the form of federal and state taxes along with social security, worker’s comp and whatever other excuse they used to withhold from my paycheck. I was furious and frustrated as only teenagers and fools can do so well. It was then I began to learn about “withholdings.”
We have seen this verse a couple of times and now we are ready to deal with the last portion. This is a conditional promise because it requires that you meet a condition to receive the promise. As we walk uprightly, God said he would not “withhold” any good thing from us. Do you want what is good for your life? Have you ever been so confused that you didn’t even know what was good? The answer is simple. Walk uprightly and God will deliver what is good for you. Even better, when God pays you there are no withholdings!
In 7th grade I remember a time when I disobeyed my father and invited friends over after school. When I saw him driving up I tried to get my friends out of the house before he found out. No such luck. I got them out, but not without my father seeing them. Needless to say I was grounded, but what stuck with me the most was the fact that I could not look my father in the eyes. Even my head and shoulders sank towards the ground. I was not able to stand upright because of the shame I felt for betraying a man I admire.
On the contrary, our life’s activities and thoughts should reflect a respect and admiration for God so that we may walk uprightly, without shame. Do you feel like you are lacking goodness in your life? Examine your life and see if it is something that God would be pleased with.
How well I remember my fist real paycheck. I had worked two full weeks in hopes of proving my worth. I was so eager that I picked it up right after school, I forget but I may have even skipped my last class to get there sooner. My ideas of independent wealth were wiped away when I first realized legalized theft in the form of federal and state taxes along with social security, worker’s comp and whatever other excuse they used to withhold from my paycheck. I was furious and frustrated as only teenagers and fools can do so well. It was then I began to learn about “withholdings.”
We have seen this verse a couple of times and now we are ready to deal with the last portion. This is a conditional promise because it requires that you meet a condition to receive the promise. As we walk uprightly, God said he would not “withhold” any good thing from us. Do you want what is good for your life? Have you ever been so confused that you didn’t even know what was good? The answer is simple. Walk uprightly and God will deliver what is good for you. Even better, when God pays you there are no withholdings!
In 7th grade I remember a time when I disobeyed my father and invited friends over after school. When I saw him driving up I tried to get my friends out of the house before he found out. No such luck. I got them out, but not without my father seeing them. Needless to say I was grounded, but what stuck with me the most was the fact that I could not look my father in the eyes. Even my head and shoulders sank towards the ground. I was not able to stand upright because of the shame I felt for betraying a man I admire.
On the contrary, our life’s activities and thoughts should reflect a respect and admiration for God so that we may walk uprightly, without shame. Do you feel like you are lacking goodness in your life? Examine your life and see if it is something that God would be pleased with.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Rejoicement!
Rejoicement = Announcement of rejoicing
I want to take a moment and glorify God for His saving power. Yesterday a student of mine sent me a text that simply read, "I want to get saved." That made for the best Monday! Its not like you get these often you know.
I had opportunity to visit him and he prayed through. He said when we were praying together he felt something leaving his body; that it felt like wind. Praise God!!!! I want to rejoice with the angels in heaven.
Even better, is he really wants to be a child of God. He said, several times, that he wanted "to really live it. He didn't want to go back to his old ways and he didn't want to be like some "christians" who don't really do it."
Please join me in rejoicing and pray the Lord keep him.
I want to take a moment and glorify God for His saving power. Yesterday a student of mine sent me a text that simply read, "I want to get saved." That made for the best Monday! Its not like you get these often you know.
I had opportunity to visit him and he prayed through. He said when we were praying together he felt something leaving his body; that it felt like wind. Praise God!!!! I want to rejoice with the angels in heaven.
Even better, is he really wants to be a child of God. He said, several times, that he wanted "to really live it. He didn't want to go back to his old ways and he didn't want to be like some "christians" who don't really do it."
Please join me in rejoicing and pray the Lord keep him.
Psams 84:11 (Promise # 2)
"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he giveth grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
The next part of this promise refers to the fact that God himself grants to us his grace. I want to fuse two ideas here. 1st one definition of grace is to make attractive. Next in II Cor 12:9 we read where Jesus expounded on the meaning of grace, when he told the Apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Have you ever been falsely accused, verbally attacked, or blatantly mistreated? What usually happens? Did you know that God can make you to be victorious over your human nature?
The grace God gives brings power that you can be kind in any circumstance. You can respond to people in such a way that you inspire them to feel ashamed for how they dealt with you. At the same time, you will be able to inspire others as they admire how you handled the situation. It really isn’t impossible, I am sure you can think of at least one person in your life who has demonstrated a truly gracious spirit in difficult circumstances.
Reading the book of Acts you learn how the grace of God allowed Paul and Silas to sing even though they had been beaten and imprisoned for doing good things. There is an aura of glory that follows this type of grace. Moses partook of it when he saw the backside of God, which resulted in his face literally glowing. We have the promise to be able to live a life where the glory of God lights our countenance making the way attractive. Have you availed yourself of the grace of God?
The next part of this promise refers to the fact that God himself grants to us his grace. I want to fuse two ideas here. 1st one definition of grace is to make attractive. Next in II Cor 12:9 we read where Jesus expounded on the meaning of grace, when he told the Apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Have you ever been falsely accused, verbally attacked, or blatantly mistreated? What usually happens? Did you know that God can make you to be victorious over your human nature?
The grace God gives brings power that you can be kind in any circumstance. You can respond to people in such a way that you inspire them to feel ashamed for how they dealt with you. At the same time, you will be able to inspire others as they admire how you handled the situation. It really isn’t impossible, I am sure you can think of at least one person in your life who has demonstrated a truly gracious spirit in difficult circumstances.
Reading the book of Acts you learn how the grace of God allowed Paul and Silas to sing even though they had been beaten and imprisoned for doing good things. There is an aura of glory that follows this type of grace. Moses partook of it when he saw the backside of God, which resulted in his face literally glowing. We have the promise to be able to live a life where the glory of God lights our countenance making the way attractive. Have you availed yourself of the grace of God?
Friday, May 7, 2010
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
Here we have to dig a little to get at this promise because this promise was made specifically to an individual. You have to understand that God is not a respecter of persons, so when He makes a promise to an individual there is a general principle that He promises to all. The general principle God is promising is that He formed you and knows you.
As a middle-aged kid my parents divorced, which resulted in my bouncing around schools from 6th – 12th grade. I specifically recall the worst experience during that time was when I finished the last 3 months of 8th grade at a new school. Under normal conditions this is a difficult age to develop new friendships, and being from a different state only compounded the difficulty. Growing up I always played team sports and during this 6-year period I used it as an opportunity to meet and establish friends. At this new school I showed up too late to join any teams.
For the first time in my life, I truly knew what it felt like to be lonely. I felt like no one knew who I was or cared to find out. Normally a social butterfly, I became the quiet nerd who sat in the classroom alone reading the textbook. I missed having people who knew what color I liked, what sports I could play, my middle name and without making fun of it, what I was thinking. I missed being known for who I was.
Have you ever felt alone; like no one really knows you? God does. In this verse He is promising that He knows you inside out, like any author knows the book they wrote. He is promising you that He made you, thereby obtaining perfect understanding of who you are. The next time you feel alone and like no one cares remember this promise.
Here we have to dig a little to get at this promise because this promise was made specifically to an individual. You have to understand that God is not a respecter of persons, so when He makes a promise to an individual there is a general principle that He promises to all. The general principle God is promising is that He formed you and knows you.
As a middle-aged kid my parents divorced, which resulted in my bouncing around schools from 6th – 12th grade. I specifically recall the worst experience during that time was when I finished the last 3 months of 8th grade at a new school. Under normal conditions this is a difficult age to develop new friendships, and being from a different state only compounded the difficulty. Growing up I always played team sports and during this 6-year period I used it as an opportunity to meet and establish friends. At this new school I showed up too late to join any teams.
For the first time in my life, I truly knew what it felt like to be lonely. I felt like no one knew who I was or cared to find out. Normally a social butterfly, I became the quiet nerd who sat in the classroom alone reading the textbook. I missed having people who knew what color I liked, what sports I could play, my middle name and without making fun of it, what I was thinking. I missed being known for who I was.
Have you ever felt alone; like no one really knows you? God does. In this verse He is promising that He knows you inside out, like any author knows the book they wrote. He is promising you that He made you, thereby obtaining perfect understanding of who you are. The next time you feel alone and like no one cares remember this promise.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Psalms 84:11
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: he giveth grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
Wow! This one is packed with goodness from God. Imagine the thought of God being our own personal sun. In a natural sense the sun is the source of all life on earth, enabling the process of photosynthesis (where plants make food and oxygen) to happen. Can you see what a blessing it is to be able to live and function by the source of power and life that God gives. The way you can function is up to you.
Have you ever met someone who was not satisfied with their life? Like a broken down car that has a knock in the engine, they spit and sputter down life’s highway often left in the dust of nicer, well maintained cars. God wants you car to cruise down the highway of life. He is the sun; source of power, to make your car run smoothly.
You know what else the sun does, especially for people in the Pacific Northwest? It alters moods and emotions. Take a moment, close your eyes and imagine the perfect day. I doubt there are many people who imagined a dark or cloudy day, but rather it was a day that included the sunshine. God has the power to be your sunshine and he promised it if you will accept.
God also promised to be our shield. That means there is a balance. As God is our sun he is our shield, which means we won’t be dried up like the deserts of Arizona. His shield protects us from being scorched. His shield also protects us from harm and danger. This shield God offers can be used to fight against all forms of darkness and evil, even the devil himself.
Wow! This one is packed with goodness from God. Imagine the thought of God being our own personal sun. In a natural sense the sun is the source of all life on earth, enabling the process of photosynthesis (where plants make food and oxygen) to happen. Can you see what a blessing it is to be able to live and function by the source of power and life that God gives. The way you can function is up to you.
Have you ever met someone who was not satisfied with their life? Like a broken down car that has a knock in the engine, they spit and sputter down life’s highway often left in the dust of nicer, well maintained cars. God wants you car to cruise down the highway of life. He is the sun; source of power, to make your car run smoothly.
You know what else the sun does, especially for people in the Pacific Northwest? It alters moods and emotions. Take a moment, close your eyes and imagine the perfect day. I doubt there are many people who imagined a dark or cloudy day, but rather it was a day that included the sunshine. God has the power to be your sunshine and he promised it if you will accept.
God also promised to be our shield. That means there is a balance. As God is our sun he is our shield, which means we won’t be dried up like the deserts of Arizona. His shield protects us from being scorched. His shield also protects us from harm and danger. This shield God offers can be used to fight against all forms of darkness and evil, even the devil himself.
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