Ever say to God, “Where are you? Don’t you care anymore?” Well you are in good company. David the Psalmist said the same thing in similar words.
Psalms 77:7-9
7 Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again?
8 Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Or has He in anger withdrawn His
compassion? Selah. (NAS)
It happened to David much like it does to you. It came in the night. The darkest times seem to be when all is quiet, you cannot sleep and your mind is filled with disturbing thoughts. Then you wonder where God has gone. David finally realized that God has not changed. He realizes that it is with his own emotions that he is struggling.
Psalms 77:10
10 Then I said, "It is my grief, that the right hand of the Most High has
changed." (NAS)
David then remembers how God has worked in his life in the past and says:
Ps alms 77:11-12
11 I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; surely I will remember Thy
wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all Thy work, and muse on Thy deeds. (NAS)
Meditate on the way God has blessed and cared for you over the years. Look back across the expanse of God’s working in your life and rejoice. Take your eyes off of your own grief and meditate on God Himself. Remember your God is a Great Shepherd.
Psalms 77:20 “You lead your flock like a caring Shepherd.” (my paraphrase)
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ.
May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Spiritual Privacy #45
Matthew 6:5-7
5 "And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you. (NAS)
To whom do you pray? For what reason do you pray? What do you expect in return? Jesus knew his audience well and approached their prayer life accordingly. He warns them to be careful of their audience. Your prayers are to be directed to God and not to people. God desires for you to communicate with Him.
If you pray in public in order that people might hear you and be impressed with your spirituality then you have received all the answer you will get. When you speak to God go into a closet and shut the door. The God who is everywhere will meet with and listen to you in private. Your communication and relationship with God as well as your answers to prayer are the true rewards.
God desires that you only pray to Him and He promises to respond to your prayers. When you pray talk to God in private and expect God to answer your prayers.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
5 "And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you. (NAS)
To whom do you pray? For what reason do you pray? What do you expect in return? Jesus knew his audience well and approached their prayer life accordingly. He warns them to be careful of their audience. Your prayers are to be directed to God and not to people. God desires for you to communicate with Him.
If you pray in public in order that people might hear you and be impressed with your spirituality then you have received all the answer you will get. When you speak to God go into a closet and shut the door. The God who is everywhere will meet with and listen to you in private. Your communication and relationship with God as well as your answers to prayer are the true rewards.
God desires that you only pray to Him and He promises to respond to your prayers. When you pray talk to God in private and expect God to answer your prayers.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Whatever He Says #44
John 2:5
5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." (NAS)
Need some good advice for this New Year? Jesus was at the wedding feast of Cana of Galilee when He was asked to take care of a problem. The problem was simply that they had run out of wine; not a good thing to happen at a Jewish wedding. Jesus’ mother instructed the servants with a course of action. The incredible advice she gave them was, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Even though it seems fewer people are making New Year’s resolutions, let me encourage you to make a decision instead. Follow the advice of Mary and do what Jesus says. Instead of asking, “what would Jesus do?” ask yourself “what is Jesus saying for me to do?” Mary realized that the best thing anyone could ever do would be to listen to Jesus and do what He says.
In all our new beginnings; whether it is a new year, a new job, a new relationship, or just a new day, why not just pay close attention to what Jesus says for you to do, and then do it. Jesus gave to the servants the job of filling the water pots with water and then drawing from the pots. They made an incredible discovery. The water had turned to wine. The need of the wedding feast was fulfilled. Think of your possibilities if you would only, do whatever He says.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." (NAS)
Need some good advice for this New Year? Jesus was at the wedding feast of Cana of Galilee when He was asked to take care of a problem. The problem was simply that they had run out of wine; not a good thing to happen at a Jewish wedding. Jesus’ mother instructed the servants with a course of action. The incredible advice she gave them was, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Even though it seems fewer people are making New Year’s resolutions, let me encourage you to make a decision instead. Follow the advice of Mary and do what Jesus says. Instead of asking, “what would Jesus do?” ask yourself “what is Jesus saying for me to do?” Mary realized that the best thing anyone could ever do would be to listen to Jesus and do what He says.
In all our new beginnings; whether it is a new year, a new job, a new relationship, or just a new day, why not just pay close attention to what Jesus says for you to do, and then do it. Jesus gave to the servants the job of filling the water pots with water and then drawing from the pots. They made an incredible discovery. The water had turned to wine. The need of the wedding feast was fulfilled. Think of your possibilities if you would only, do whatever He says.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
The Gift #43
John 1:11-12,14
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name…
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NAS)
Merry Christmas!
From the humble birth in a manger in the city of Bethlehem Jesus came to bring salvation to the entire world. Leaving the glory of heaven and coming to earth He provided for the Nation of Israel a Savior, but they rejected Jesus. God had chosen Israel above all the nations to be a kingdom of priests in order that they might introduce Him to every nation and tribe. They failed to accept their mission. They then rejected the Savior sent to save them.
But God in His great love for all humanity made it possible that through believing everyone could become His child. If you receive Jesus, by faith, as your Lord and Savior you can become a child of God. You simply have to believe. What a wonderful gift God has given to you through His Son. God asks you only to believe. Won’t you receive Him now? What a great time at this Christmas season to become a believer in Jesus.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name…
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NAS)
Merry Christmas!
From the humble birth in a manger in the city of Bethlehem Jesus came to bring salvation to the entire world. Leaving the glory of heaven and coming to earth He provided for the Nation of Israel a Savior, but they rejected Jesus. God had chosen Israel above all the nations to be a kingdom of priests in order that they might introduce Him to every nation and tribe. They failed to accept their mission. They then rejected the Savior sent to save them.
But God in His great love for all humanity made it possible that through believing everyone could become His child. If you receive Jesus, by faith, as your Lord and Savior you can become a child of God. You simply have to believe. What a wonderful gift God has given to you through His Son. God asks you only to believe. Won’t you receive Him now? What a great time at this Christmas season to become a believer in Jesus.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
From A Manger To A Kingdom #42
Luke 1:30-33
30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shallname Him Jesus.
32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end." (NAS)
Christmas is about Jesus. Jesus is the Son born to the virgin Mary. He was God in human flesh. The good news of His birth was announced to Mary in the midst of her fear, questioning, and elation. How can it be that a simple virgin should have the child who would be the King of Israel and the King of the whole world?
Mary did not understand, but likely you don’t either. The miracle of miracles became reality, the God of the universe and creator of the world was to become a man and live on the earth. His kingdom would never come to the end, because His kingdom would be found in the hearts of people who by faith trust Him as Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
No wonder Mary pondered these things in her heart. During this Christmas season ponder in your heart that Jesus is able to establish His kingdom in you. Christmas after all is about Jesus.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shallname Him Jesus.
32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end." (NAS)
Christmas is about Jesus. Jesus is the Son born to the virgin Mary. He was God in human flesh. The good news of His birth was announced to Mary in the midst of her fear, questioning, and elation. How can it be that a simple virgin should have the child who would be the King of Israel and the King of the whole world?
Mary did not understand, but likely you don’t either. The miracle of miracles became reality, the God of the universe and creator of the world was to become a man and live on the earth. His kingdom would never come to the end, because His kingdom would be found in the hearts of people who by faith trust Him as Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
No wonder Mary pondered these things in her heart. During this Christmas season ponder in your heart that Jesus is able to establish His kingdom in you. Christmas after all is about Jesus.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Why Question #41
Difficult times have always been a cause for even God’s people to question and yearn for answers. Several times in Psalms King David asks the inevitable question, “Why?” The author of Habakkuk writes a whole book in the Bible asking, “God where are you?”
Israel had been captured by the Midianites and were again asking God, “…If the Lord is with us why then has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about?” Judges 6:13 (NLT)
This may be the question in your mind today. The answer to all these questions is simply that God is in ultimate control. No matter what we face God is always there.
Romans 11:36 (NLT) says it clearly, “For everything comes from Him, everything exists by His power, and is intended for His glory. To Him be the glory forevermore.” Our comfort, hope, and encouragement is found not in material things, governments, economics, anyone or anything else. Our hope is in the Lord.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Israel had been captured by the Midianites and were again asking God, “…If the Lord is with us why then has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about?” Judges 6:13 (NLT)
This may be the question in your mind today. The answer to all these questions is simply that God is in ultimate control. No matter what we face God is always there.
Romans 11:36 (NLT) says it clearly, “For everything comes from Him, everything exists by His power, and is intended for His glory. To Him be the glory forevermore.” Our comfort, hope, and encouragement is found not in material things, governments, economics, anyone or anything else. Our hope is in the Lord.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
My Pile of Stones #40
Joshua 4:6
6 "Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' (NAS)
What do these stones mean to you? What a question. Have you contemplated the meaning of that phrase to Israel? They had just crossed the Jordan River on dry ground during the time of a flood. They watched as the waters of the river stood still and mounded up as the two million or so Israelites crossed over on a dry river bed. They then erected a memorial to God and to the victory of the safe crossing by placing twelve stones in the middle of the river. The question lingering over the stones was, "What do these stones mean to you?" To Israel they meant a finality to forty years of wilderness wanderings. It meant freedom in the Promised Land. It meant God was faithful.
Do you have a pile of rocks somewhere? Not a literal pile, but a place where you watched God at work and took time to build a memorial. Why not find the middle of the river and build a memorial to God for yourself. It will be a ceaseless reminder that God was faithful to you in the past and that He will be there for you now and always.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
6 "Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' (NAS)
What do these stones mean to you? What a question. Have you contemplated the meaning of that phrase to Israel? They had just crossed the Jordan River on dry ground during the time of a flood. They watched as the waters of the river stood still and mounded up as the two million or so Israelites crossed over on a dry river bed. They then erected a memorial to God and to the victory of the safe crossing by placing twelve stones in the middle of the river. The question lingering over the stones was, "What do these stones mean to you?" To Israel they meant a finality to forty years of wilderness wanderings. It meant freedom in the Promised Land. It meant God was faithful.
Do you have a pile of rocks somewhere? Not a literal pile, but a place where you watched God at work and took time to build a memorial. Why not find the middle of the river and build a memorial to God for yourself. It will be a ceaseless reminder that God was faithful to you in the past and that He will be there for you now and always.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
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