Romans 11:36 “For everything comes from Him, everything exists by His power, and is intended for His glory.”
Do you need reminded as I often do that everything in life comes through the loving Father? No matter what happens you need to remind yourself that God was not surprised nor did He panic. Guess what! You don’t need to panic or be surprised either. Notice that the verse uses the word everything, that means all things. Not only does everything come from Him, but everything that exists, exists by His power. He is in control of life, death and everything in between. He knows what is happening to nations, people, and to you. He is aware of and in control of all things.
Your own comfort and peace is a result of God’s control of all situations. Maybe most important of all is that God is going to receive glory from all things. Your life was intended for God’s glory. To Him be the glory great things He has done and is doing. Trust Him with your life’s needs right now.
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, September 25, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Is Your Wall Broken Down? #29
Nehemiah 1:3
3 And they said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire." (NAS)
The people of God had been taken into exile into Babylon and the city of Jerusalem had been left behind and was now in shambles. Nehemiah had just received word back from his brother and some other men of the conditions in Jerusalem. There were only a few people left in the city and they were in poor condition, and the city wall was broken down. The destruction of the gates and
wall of the city was so great that the city was unable to be protected.
Nehemiah’s motivation, a great burden for the City of God, led him to inspect for himself the city of Jerusalem. When you are faced with little support, great distress, and broken down defenses it is time to do what Nehemiah did and pray. Nehemiah realized this project was far more than he could handle. He needed the direct intervention of God. Will you find purpose in your life today through the needs that face you and then realize they are much bigger than you are and call out to God for His help.
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.
3 And they said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire." (NAS)
The people of God had been taken into exile into Babylon and the city of Jerusalem had been left behind and was now in shambles. Nehemiah had just received word back from his brother and some other men of the conditions in Jerusalem. There were only a few people left in the city and they were in poor condition, and the city wall was broken down. The destruction of the gates and
wall of the city was so great that the city was unable to be protected.
Nehemiah’s motivation, a great burden for the City of God, led him to inspect for himself the city of Jerusalem. When you are faced with little support, great distress, and broken down defenses it is time to do what Nehemiah did and pray. Nehemiah realized this project was far more than he could handle. He needed the direct intervention of God. Will you find purpose in your life today through the needs that face you and then realize they are much bigger than you are and call out to God for His help.
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, September 11, 2008
Pray For The Lost #28
Romans 10:1-2
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. (NAS)
The Jewish people are the concern of the Apostle Paul as he shares his great desire for their salvation. Paul recognized that the people who were his kinsmen in the flesh knew about God and yet their knowledge was not complete for they had not accepted Jesus as the Messiah.
Every person who has not received Jesus needs to be the recipient of your burden. Pray that God will give you a heart’s desire and a burden for people who do not know Christ as Lord and Savior. Although you know people who have a belief in God, it takes an experience of faith in Jesus Christ to save people from their sin. Pray for the people that you desire to come to know Christ. Speak their name to God. Your burden and prayer will not go unheeded. God cares for all people everywhere and is not willing that any should perish, but for all to come to repentance and faith 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
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. (NAS)
The Jewish people are the concern of the Apostle Paul as he shares his great desire for their salvation. Paul recognized that the people who were his kinsmen in the flesh knew about God and yet their knowledge was not complete for they had not accepted Jesus as the Messiah.
Every person who has not received Jesus needs to be the recipient of your burden. Pray that God will give you a heart’s desire and a burden for people who do not know Christ as Lord and Savior. Although you know people who have a belief in God, it takes an experience of faith in Jesus Christ to save people from their sin. Pray for the people that you desire to come to know Christ. Speak their name to God. Your burden and prayer will not go unheeded. God cares for all people everywhere and is not willing that any should perish, but for all to come to repentance and faith 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
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Express Your Freedom #27
Galatians 5:1,13
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free;
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (NAS)
Freedom is God’s wonderful gift to you. The freedom to choose, the freedom to accept or reject, the freedom to live, and the freedom to restrict your personal freedoms are all gifts from God. As a believer you know that in Christ you are free from the penalty and the demands of the law. You are free to respond to God’s love. This freedom is the calling of God upon your lives.
But the warning of scripture is to not turn that freedom (to do as you choose) into an opportunity for the flesh. Do not use your freedom for selfish reasons, but use your freedom to serve one another. The greatest expression of your freedom is to choose to love as God has loved you. Freedom to love or not to love is a gift from God, but to truly use your freedom, as God would desire you to use it is to choose to love one another. Selfish freedom is still called freedom but instead of setting you truly free it enslaves you. You were called to freedom. Use your freedom wisely.
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.
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free;
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (NAS)
Freedom is God’s wonderful gift to you. The freedom to choose, the freedom to accept or reject, the freedom to live, and the freedom to restrict your personal freedoms are all gifts from God. As a believer you know that in Christ you are free from the penalty and the demands of the law. You are free to respond to God’s love. This freedom is the calling of God upon your lives.
But the warning of scripture is to not turn that freedom (to do as you choose) into an opportunity for the flesh. Do not use your freedom for selfish reasons, but use your freedom to serve one another. The greatest expression of your freedom is to choose to love as God has loved you. Freedom to love or not to love is a gift from God, but to truly use your freedom, as God would desire you to use it is to choose to love one another. Selfish freedom is still called freedom but instead of setting you truly free it enslaves you. You were called to freedom. Use your freedom wisely.
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, August 28, 2008
Are You On The Bottom Of The Sea? #26
Jonah 1:6 How can you sleep at a time like this? Get up and pray.
Ever feel like Jonah? The only way to describe your current situation is: “I am in a mess.” Jonah found himself in the belly of a big fish. That was certainly a mess. He got there because he was running from God. My advice to Jonah and to you: stop running from God. You cannot get away.
The second thing Jonah had to do was to accept responsibility for the mess he was in at that moment. Not always, but often the problem you are encountering is selfmade and self-perpetuated. Accept responsibility and do something about it.
Third, look to God. He is the only way out. Jonah saw that living at the bottom of the sea in a fish’s stomach was not the way to find abundant life. Maybe you need to come to the conclusion that you really need God. I believe God might even allow you to be ‘on the bottom of the sea’ in order to wake you up to your need for God Himself. Reach out to God right now. He is there waiting for you to come to Him.
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.
Ever feel like Jonah? The only way to describe your current situation is: “I am in a mess.” Jonah found himself in the belly of a big fish. That was certainly a mess. He got there because he was running from God. My advice to Jonah and to you: stop running from God. You cannot get away.
The second thing Jonah had to do was to accept responsibility for the mess he was in at that moment. Not always, but often the problem you are encountering is selfmade and self-perpetuated. Accept responsibility and do something about it.
Third, look to God. He is the only way out. Jonah saw that living at the bottom of the sea in a fish’s stomach was not the way to find abundant life. Maybe you need to come to the conclusion that you really need God. I believe God might even allow you to be ‘on the bottom of the sea’ in order to wake you up to your need for God Himself. Reach out to God right now. He is there waiting for you to come to Him.
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, August 21, 2008
God Is On Our Side #25
Ever feel insecure? Sure you have. All of us do. Certain situations in life lend themselves to our feelings of being unloved and uncared for. It is during those moments when you may feel insecure. I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul to the Roman church that gave them courage when insecurity knocked at their door. Maybe his words will help you.
Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect?
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Romans 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height,
nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NAS)
Sounds like you are pretty secure if you are in Christ. God does love you and cares for you. No need to ever feel insecure. People will let you down, but God never will.
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.
Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect?
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Romans 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height,
nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NAS)
Sounds like you are pretty secure if you are in Christ. God does love you and cares for you. No need to ever feel insecure. People will let you down, but God never will.
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, August 14, 2008
Who Do You Look Like? #24
Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (NAS)
PBPWMGINFWMY Please be patient God is not finished with me yet. You are still a work in progress. God is at work in your life to make you Christ-like. He will use people, experience, things, struggles, and whatever is necessary to accomplish His purpose in you. God is in control of your maturity. The finished product will look and act like Jesus.
That means that whatever you face today God will not panic or be surprised, but will ahead of time know the purpose and accomplish it. You can also be confident that God’s grace is sufficient to see you through whatever it may be. He loves you and cares for you. He will give you the strength needed to match the challenge. God never promised a life void of tribulation. In fact He did promise that “through many tribulations you will enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22 He also promised, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5.
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
PBPWMGINFWMY Please be patient God is not finished with me yet. You are still a work in progress. God is at work in your life to make you Christ-like. He will use people, experience, things, struggles, and whatever is necessary to accomplish His purpose in you. God is in control of your maturity. The finished product will look and act like Jesus.
That means that whatever you face today God will not panic or be surprised, but will ahead of time know the purpose and accomplish it. You can also be confident that God’s grace is sufficient to see you through whatever it may be. He loves you and cares for you. He will give you the strength needed to match the challenge. God never promised a life void of tribulation. In fact He did promise that “through many tribulations you will enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22 He also promised, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5.
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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