July 7
God’s Word is unchanging. He promised long ago that He would bless those who bless His people and curse those who curse them. Those words are as true today as they are when He first spoke them.
It may not appear that the enemies of Israel are on the defensive, in fact, it may sometimes seem that her foes are in a position of strength, but we who believe know that we do not walk by sight, we walk by faith. (See II Corinthians 5:7.)
As a believer who trusts the Word of God, including His pronouncement about Israel, allow yourself to enlarge your faith and expect God's supernatural provision in your life. Genesis 24:1 says that Abraham was blessed in every way.
What were his blessings?
Abraham was very wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold. He wasn't rich when God first called him, but he became rich because of the blessing of God upon his life (Genesis 13:2, Deuteronomy 8:18).
Abraham also had great favor. The people referred to him as a mighty prince among them. God can supernaturally elevate you to places of favor and influence. Psalm 75:6 says that promotion comes from God.
Abraham's son was abundantly blessed. When Abraham died, he left everything to Isaac, but the Bible says that God blessed Isaac in his own right. In one year, he reaped 100-fold on his crops, and he became very wealthy. You can pass the blessings down, but God also has additional blessings for your children. He wants them to increase even more (See Genesis 25:5, 26:12-14.)
Abraham even received material blessings that he didn't have to work for. Psalm 105:44 says, "Abraham fell heir to what others had toiled for." We've got to grasp hold of this! The Bible says the wealth of the sinner is passed on to the just (Proverbs 13:22)!
God can bless you with things that you don't even have to work for. Deuteronomy 6:11 says that He will give you houses that you did not build, wells that you did not dig, and vineyards that you did not plant.
God has spoken an eternal promise of blessing for those who bless the children of Abraham. God has spoken an eternal promise of judgment for those who curse the children of Abraham.
Into which category have you placed yourself?
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Monday, July 6, 2015
Embracing Grace and Truth
July 6
Embracing Grace and Truth by Denise J. Hughes
“He told them, ‘Go into the middle of the Jordan,
in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder – twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, What do these stones mean? Then you can tell them, They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:5-7
The Things That Remind Us . . .
A souvenir reminds us of a trip we went on. A photo album reminds us of a holiday we celebrated. A yearbook reminds us of the classmates we went to school with.
These keepsakes serve as reminders. Because it’s important to remember special moments.
In the Old Testament, we read about the Israelites’ journey. From slavery to the Promised Land. God parted the waters of the Red Sea as they walked out of Egypt. And He parted the waters of the Jordan River as they walked into Canaan.
And here, the moment they step foot onto the Promised Soil, God tells them to take up twelve stones from the dry riverbed and build a memorial — a memorial to serve as a reminder of their deliverance out of bondage and into freedom.
God is still in the business of delivering His people out of messes and into beauty. And when we call to mind what He’s done for us, we can’t help but thank Him and praise Him.
Some people write special dates in the margins of their Bible. These dates serve as reminders of when God brought them out of one thing and into something far better.
Mementos and keepsakes can come in many forms. They can be simple things that remind us of God’s goodness to us.
Today, let’s remember what God has brought us out of and into. And let’s give Him thanks.
Do you have a special “memorial” or keepsake that reminds you of a moment in time when God showed His great love and mercy toward you?
Embracing Grace and Truth by Denise J. Hughes
“He told them, ‘Go into the middle of the Jordan,
in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder – twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, What do these stones mean? Then you can tell them, They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:5-7
The Things That Remind Us . . .
A souvenir reminds us of a trip we went on. A photo album reminds us of a holiday we celebrated. A yearbook reminds us of the classmates we went to school with.
These keepsakes serve as reminders. Because it’s important to remember special moments.
In the Old Testament, we read about the Israelites’ journey. From slavery to the Promised Land. God parted the waters of the Red Sea as they walked out of Egypt. And He parted the waters of the Jordan River as they walked into Canaan.
And here, the moment they step foot onto the Promised Soil, God tells them to take up twelve stones from the dry riverbed and build a memorial — a memorial to serve as a reminder of their deliverance out of bondage and into freedom.
God is still in the business of delivering His people out of messes and into beauty. And when we call to mind what He’s done for us, we can’t help but thank Him and praise Him.
Some people write special dates in the margins of their Bible. These dates serve as reminders of when God brought them out of one thing and into something far better.
Mementos and keepsakes can come in many forms. They can be simple things that remind us of God’s goodness to us.
Today, let’s remember what God has brought us out of and into. And let’s give Him thanks.
Do you have a special “memorial” or keepsake that reminds you of a moment in time when God showed His great love and mercy toward you?
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Observations
Observations by Dr. Gary C. Robinson
I will be 77 next month. I can clearly remember the moral climate when I was growing up. Everyone that I grew up with, and everyone I encountered in everyday life believed the Biblical standards of right and wrong. Of course everyone did not live by those standards, yet they accepted them as right.
Was everyone a Christian? Of course not, in fact I did not grow up in a Christian home. We lived in a very friendly neighborhood and knew all our neighbors around us. I didn’t even know anyone who went to church.
Everyone believed in being honest, helping one another, working hard, being faithful to your employer, and much more. Everyone believed that sex was to be exclusive within the confines of marriage, that marriage was between one man and one woman for life. Everyone believed that gender was not culturally determined by one’s choice, but biologically determined at conception.
I could go on, but you get the point. It’s important to repeat that, though people believed these standards were correct, not everyone complied with them, some deliberately, and some simply because they failed in certain areas. Never-the-less, they believed they were true. Most people that I encountered believed there is a God that created the universe, yet none in “my world” were religious.
This is what I knew in my growing up years. And yet, even then, we were living on deeply ingrained capital left us by our founders. That began to change radically in the ‘60’s with the “sexual revolution, enabled by the ‘pill’.” With this significant moral drift in the thinking of many, the source of these values, God, and His revelation to mankind, the Bible, has been increasingly undermined to the point where it can honestly be said, at least from a practical and functional point of view, that God has been thrown under the bus.
Today, our President, the majority of Congress and the Supreme Court see absolutely no accountability to the One who created us. And that is also true of most of the population as well. And we have no complaint as we have elected them. The people in office are truly a reflection of our values.
The result is crystal clear. It is evident in every aspect of life today. Everyone is doing what is right in his own eyes. That is seen in the slaughter of the unborn (abortion), our youth (Columbine High School in Colorado, then … .) (streets of Chicago, Houston LA … .), and the rapidly increasing rate of suicide (young and old). Honesty, integrity, concern for others--–our society is in freefall. My personal opinion is that we are living through the death of a nation, however that may unfold.
Our nation was clearly founded upon Biblical standards, and the overwhelming majority, both leaders and followers, of those that inhabited what would become a democratic republic, the United States of America, were genuinely religious. Most believed in the God of the Bible, and accountability to Him is reflected not only in the founding documents, but also in the laws and practices that were the fabric of what was to become the greatest nation that has ever existed on the planet. In spite of the fact that progressive thinking, back to Woodrow Wilson and perhaps further, had begun to undermine much of the Biblical base upon which we operated, Christian principles were very much evident throughout the Nation.
After the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked by one of his constituents, “… what have we got … . He replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” (http://www.ourrepubliconline.com/Author/21 )
If you would like to understand this historical unfolding, take the time to look at the first chapter in the book of Romans in the Bible, verses 18 through the end of the chapter. Specifically take note of the following: v24 – Therefore God gave them up … to impurity ; v26 … God gave them up to dishonorable passions ; v28 … God gave them up to a debased mind … . Vv 29-31 lists the things resulting from a debased mind.
That’s where we are today. God is currently, right now, judging America by allowing us to be gods of our own lives, giving us what we want, not what we need. The result – turn on the news. And if you’re interested in the mechanism for these degenerative changes, watch and listen to Dr John MacArthur’s recent sermon, Hope for a Doomed Nation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=YK2ihin4sKo (51:48).
I’m very grateful, and proud, of my heritage as an American. I’m ashamed of the place to which we have fallen. More importantly, I’m deeply grateful that God opened my eyes to my self-centered thinking and enabled me to trust in His provision for reconciliation and preparation for eternity.
Please watch and listen to the history behind OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM
https://www.youtube.com/embed/YaxGNQE5ZLA ,
and listen to America sung by Hillsdale College Choir
https://youtu.be/EmP9LvHgcaA
My prayer is that God will move in your spirit so you may look clearly at the big picture of eternity which lasts forever.
I will be 77 next month. I can clearly remember the moral climate when I was growing up. Everyone that I grew up with, and everyone I encountered in everyday life believed the Biblical standards of right and wrong. Of course everyone did not live by those standards, yet they accepted them as right.
Was everyone a Christian? Of course not, in fact I did not grow up in a Christian home. We lived in a very friendly neighborhood and knew all our neighbors around us. I didn’t even know anyone who went to church.
Everyone believed in being honest, helping one another, working hard, being faithful to your employer, and much more. Everyone believed that sex was to be exclusive within the confines of marriage, that marriage was between one man and one woman for life. Everyone believed that gender was not culturally determined by one’s choice, but biologically determined at conception.
I could go on, but you get the point. It’s important to repeat that, though people believed these standards were correct, not everyone complied with them, some deliberately, and some simply because they failed in certain areas. Never-the-less, they believed they were true. Most people that I encountered believed there is a God that created the universe, yet none in “my world” were religious.
This is what I knew in my growing up years. And yet, even then, we were living on deeply ingrained capital left us by our founders. That began to change radically in the ‘60’s with the “sexual revolution, enabled by the ‘pill’.” With this significant moral drift in the thinking of many, the source of these values, God, and His revelation to mankind, the Bible, has been increasingly undermined to the point where it can honestly be said, at least from a practical and functional point of view, that God has been thrown under the bus.
Today, our President, the majority of Congress and the Supreme Court see absolutely no accountability to the One who created us. And that is also true of most of the population as well. And we have no complaint as we have elected them. The people in office are truly a reflection of our values.
The result is crystal clear. It is evident in every aspect of life today. Everyone is doing what is right in his own eyes. That is seen in the slaughter of the unborn (abortion), our youth (Columbine High School in Colorado, then … .) (streets of Chicago, Houston LA … .), and the rapidly increasing rate of suicide (young and old). Honesty, integrity, concern for others--–our society is in freefall. My personal opinion is that we are living through the death of a nation, however that may unfold.
Our nation was clearly founded upon Biblical standards, and the overwhelming majority, both leaders and followers, of those that inhabited what would become a democratic republic, the United States of America, were genuinely religious. Most believed in the God of the Bible, and accountability to Him is reflected not only in the founding documents, but also in the laws and practices that were the fabric of what was to become the greatest nation that has ever existed on the planet. In spite of the fact that progressive thinking, back to Woodrow Wilson and perhaps further, had begun to undermine much of the Biblical base upon which we operated, Christian principles were very much evident throughout the Nation.
After the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked by one of his constituents, “… what have we got … . He replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” (http://www.ourrepubliconline.com/Author/21 )
If you would like to understand this historical unfolding, take the time to look at the first chapter in the book of Romans in the Bible, verses 18 through the end of the chapter. Specifically take note of the following: v24 – Therefore God gave them up … to impurity ; v26 … God gave them up to dishonorable passions ; v28 … God gave them up to a debased mind … . Vv 29-31 lists the things resulting from a debased mind.
That’s where we are today. God is currently, right now, judging America by allowing us to be gods of our own lives, giving us what we want, not what we need. The result – turn on the news. And if you’re interested in the mechanism for these degenerative changes, watch and listen to Dr John MacArthur’s recent sermon, Hope for a Doomed Nation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=YK2ihin4sKo (51:48).
I’m very grateful, and proud, of my heritage as an American. I’m ashamed of the place to which we have fallen. More importantly, I’m deeply grateful that God opened my eyes to my self-centered thinking and enabled me to trust in His provision for reconciliation and preparation for eternity.
Please watch and listen to the history behind OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM
https://www.youtube.com/embed/YaxGNQE5ZLA ,
and listen to America sung by Hillsdale College Choir
https://youtu.be/EmP9LvHgcaA
My prayer is that God will move in your spirit so you may look clearly at the big picture of eternity which lasts forever.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Independence Day!
July 4
INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Blessed Is The Nation by Dr. D. James Kennedy
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…—Psalm 33:12
This time of year is always a perfect time to dwell on the founding of our nation. Did you know that God’s providence played an enormous part in the settling and founding of this country? George Washington alluded to God’s providence many times as he recounted our nation’s development. Let’s look at just one stunning example, forgotten by many today.
In the first year of the Revolutionary War, America almost lost the entire conflict. British General Howe had cornered Washington’s army in Brooklyn Heights. The British forces surrounded the American forces in a great semicircle, and behind them British ships could close them off at any time. In fact, the British intended to do just that the next day and thus end the war.
The Americans had no way to escape. Nevertheless, that night, Washington endeavored to escape, realizing the helplessness of his position. He collected every vessel he could find, from rowboats to sloops, and set about to evacuate his troops by night.
Counselors advised against such an escape because the British would see them in the moonlight and hear the splashing of their oars. But Washington was determined to go ahead anyway. Just as the American troops began to launch their vessels, a strange and unusual fog rose up and completely covered all of them! The next morning, when General Howe gave the orders to close the trap, he was astonished to find that Washington and his entire army had disappeared!
Precisely because of many incidents like these, Washington wrote after the war: “I am sure that never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States.”
Today, thank God for His providence during the formation this great nation. And please join me in reminding people of God’s hand in founding it. Let’s give credit to Whom it is due.
The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations. —George Washington
What Makes America Unique by Dr. Jim Denison
America celebrates her 239th birthday today. According to a recent survey, nearly two in three Americans say God has granted our nation an exceptional role in human history. Is this true?
Charles Murray earned a BA in history from Harvard and a PhD in political science from MIT. In American Exceptionalism: An Experiment in History, he states categorically: "American exceptionalism is a fact of America's past, not something you can choose whether to 'believe in' any more than you can choose whether to 'believe in' the battle of Gettysburg." In its early years, the United States was considered to be "exceptional" by foreign observers as much as by Americans.
According to Murray, four factors contributed to the nation's uniqueness:
1. Our geography: rich soil for farming, a frontier to encourage immigration, and the Atlantic Ocean to separate us from European conflict.
2. Our people: hardworking pioneers who formed close-knit families.
3. Our ideology: the belief that humans possess innate rights which the state cannot bestow or withhold.
4. Our religiosity: by separating church and state, we formed congregations composed of people committed to their faith, not just those born into it.
John Adams was blunt: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Do these factors mean that our founders were all Christians? We sometimes hear that 52 of the 55 signers of the Declaration of Independence were "orthodox" Christians, and that 24 held seminary degrees. But their personal spiritual commitments are actually hard to determine. We can characterize only about 20—half were biblical Christians, while the rest were deists or non-orthodox.
While America's founders were not all committed Christians, they were clearly committed to a Judeo-Christian moral standard. Even Thomas Jefferson, himself a deist, insisted: "Injustice in government undermines the foundations of a society. A nation, therefore, must take measures to encourage its members along the paths of justice and morality."
How can we take such "measures" today?
Abraham Lincoln warned, "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Spiritual renewal is critical to the future of our democracy Our greatest need today is not to make America a Christian nation, but to help America be a nation of Christians (Matthew 28:18-20).
I love America, and celebrate her national birthday with joy. But I also pray every day for America to experience the spiritual awakening we so desperately need.
Will you join me?
INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Blessed Is The Nation by Dr. D. James Kennedy
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…—Psalm 33:12
This time of year is always a perfect time to dwell on the founding of our nation. Did you know that God’s providence played an enormous part in the settling and founding of this country? George Washington alluded to God’s providence many times as he recounted our nation’s development. Let’s look at just one stunning example, forgotten by many today.
In the first year of the Revolutionary War, America almost lost the entire conflict. British General Howe had cornered Washington’s army in Brooklyn Heights. The British forces surrounded the American forces in a great semicircle, and behind them British ships could close them off at any time. In fact, the British intended to do just that the next day and thus end the war.
The Americans had no way to escape. Nevertheless, that night, Washington endeavored to escape, realizing the helplessness of his position. He collected every vessel he could find, from rowboats to sloops, and set about to evacuate his troops by night.
Counselors advised against such an escape because the British would see them in the moonlight and hear the splashing of their oars. But Washington was determined to go ahead anyway. Just as the American troops began to launch their vessels, a strange and unusual fog rose up and completely covered all of them! The next morning, when General Howe gave the orders to close the trap, he was astonished to find that Washington and his entire army had disappeared!
Precisely because of many incidents like these, Washington wrote after the war: “I am sure that never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States.”
Today, thank God for His providence during the formation this great nation. And please join me in reminding people of God’s hand in founding it. Let’s give credit to Whom it is due.
The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations. —George Washington
What Makes America Unique by Dr. Jim Denison
America celebrates her 239th birthday today. According to a recent survey, nearly two in three Americans say God has granted our nation an exceptional role in human history. Is this true?
Charles Murray earned a BA in history from Harvard and a PhD in political science from MIT. In American Exceptionalism: An Experiment in History, he states categorically: "American exceptionalism is a fact of America's past, not something you can choose whether to 'believe in' any more than you can choose whether to 'believe in' the battle of Gettysburg." In its early years, the United States was considered to be "exceptional" by foreign observers as much as by Americans.
According to Murray, four factors contributed to the nation's uniqueness:
1. Our geography: rich soil for farming, a frontier to encourage immigration, and the Atlantic Ocean to separate us from European conflict.
2. Our people: hardworking pioneers who formed close-knit families.
3. Our ideology: the belief that humans possess innate rights which the state cannot bestow or withhold.
4. Our religiosity: by separating church and state, we formed congregations composed of people committed to their faith, not just those born into it.
John Adams was blunt: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Do these factors mean that our founders were all Christians? We sometimes hear that 52 of the 55 signers of the Declaration of Independence were "orthodox" Christians, and that 24 held seminary degrees. But their personal spiritual commitments are actually hard to determine. We can characterize only about 20—half were biblical Christians, while the rest were deists or non-orthodox.
While America's founders were not all committed Christians, they were clearly committed to a Judeo-Christian moral standard. Even Thomas Jefferson, himself a deist, insisted: "Injustice in government undermines the foundations of a society. A nation, therefore, must take measures to encourage its members along the paths of justice and morality."
How can we take such "measures" today?
Abraham Lincoln warned, "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Spiritual renewal is critical to the future of our democracy Our greatest need today is not to make America a Christian nation, but to help America be a nation of Christians (Matthew 28:18-20).
I love America, and celebrate her national birthday with joy. But I also pray every day for America to experience the spiritual awakening we so desperately need.
Will you join me?
Friday, July 3, 2015
Thirty-three Things
July 3
Thirty-three Things the Holy Spirit Does as posted in Charisma Magazine:
1. He helps us—Romans 8:26
2. He guides us—John 16:13
3. He teaches us—John 14:26
4. He speaks to us—Revelation 2:7
5. He reveals truth—I Corinthians 2:10
6. He instructs us—Acts 8:29
7. He testifies of Jesus—John 15:26
8. He comforts us—Acts 9:31
9. He calls us—Acts 13:2
10. He fills us—Acts 4:31
11. He strengthens us—Ephesians 3:16
12. He prays for us—Romans 8:26
13. He prophesies through us—II Peter 1:21
14. He bears witness to truth—Romans 9:1
15. He brings joy to us—I Thessalonians 1:6
16. He brings freedom to us—II Corinthians 3:17
17. He helps us obey—I Peter 1:22
18. He calls for Jesus’ return—Revelation 22:17
19. He transforms us—II Corinthians 3:18
20. He lives in us—I Corinthians 3:16
21. He frees us—Romans 8:21
22. He renews us—Titus 3:5
23. He produces fruit in us—Galatians 5:22-23
24. He gives gifts to us—I Corinthians 12:8-10
25. He leads us—Romans 8:14
26. He convicts us—John 16:8
27. He sanctifies us—II Thessalonians 2:13
28. He empowers us—Acts 1:8
29. He unites us—Ephesians 4:3,4
30. He seals us—Ephesians 1:13
31. He gives us access to the Father—Ephesians 2:18
32. He enables us to wait—Galatians 5:5
33. He casts out demons—Matthew 12:28
Thirty-three Things the Holy Spirit Does as posted in Charisma Magazine:
1. He helps us—Romans 8:26
2. He guides us—John 16:13
3. He teaches us—John 14:26
4. He speaks to us—Revelation 2:7
5. He reveals truth—I Corinthians 2:10
6. He instructs us—Acts 8:29
7. He testifies of Jesus—John 15:26
8. He comforts us—Acts 9:31
9. He calls us—Acts 13:2
10. He fills us—Acts 4:31
11. He strengthens us—Ephesians 3:16
12. He prays for us—Romans 8:26
13. He prophesies through us—II Peter 1:21
14. He bears witness to truth—Romans 9:1
15. He brings joy to us—I Thessalonians 1:6
16. He brings freedom to us—II Corinthians 3:17
17. He helps us obey—I Peter 1:22
18. He calls for Jesus’ return—Revelation 22:17
19. He transforms us—II Corinthians 3:18
20. He lives in us—I Corinthians 3:16
21. He frees us—Romans 8:21
22. He renews us—Titus 3:5
23. He produces fruit in us—Galatians 5:22-23
24. He gives gifts to us—I Corinthians 12:8-10
25. He leads us—Romans 8:14
26. He convicts us—John 16:8
27. He sanctifies us—II Thessalonians 2:13
28. He empowers us—Acts 1:8
29. He unites us—Ephesians 4:3,4
30. He seals us—Ephesians 1:13
31. He gives us access to the Father—Ephesians 2:18
32. He enables us to wait—Galatians 5:5
33. He casts out demons—Matthew 12:28
Thursday, July 2, 2015
He sees; He knows; He loves
July 2
Love by Roy Lesen
I want to love those around me well. I bet you do too. It doesn’t matter if I know someone or not, God’s heart for them is that they are loved well by His children.
I have reflected on my life in its various seasons. In every hard season, He was always been faithful to bring someone into my life to love me well. And I remember the significance of how my friends have served me.
Their help has ranged from:
praying for me
giving me wise counsel
buying me groceries
helping me move to a new apartment
paying for my rent when I was laid off
letting me sleep on their sofa so I wouldn’t be homeless
Now, I will be the first to admit that I struggle with a little thing called pride. I am ridiculously independent and self sufficient. I actually pride myself in it. But, the Lord has gently humbled me over the years. I have learned to ask for help, especially when I don’t want to — and to accept help when it is offered. I won’t lie and say that it is easy for me to do that now, but I pretty much just take a deep breath and let it happen.
There is a blessing in both receiving and in giving.
The Lord let some simple, yet deep truths settle in to my heart, it’s not about the size of what He asks of me, it’s about the surrender of my heart when I obey Him:
“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35.
Some of the ways that my friends have loved me may seem large, and maybe they were, but it doesn’t always have to be some grand gesture. The prayer a friend offers will touch my heart just as much as someone paying my rent. The simple act of them loving me and asking if they could bless me makes feel valued by Father God and by my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Asking shows someone they are seen.
“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.'” Genesis 16:13.
I often feel as though no one sees me. I don’t get the invite. I don’t win the award. I don’t receive a Thank You for a job well done. I am not the most popular person. I don’t have the biggest platform. All of that can weigh heavy on me at times. And when I am hurting, that feeling is magnified.
When we see a need of someone and we ask if we can help them, we show them they are seen and known by us and a loving Father.
Asking shows someone God’s design for authentic community.
The early church had it right. They loved each other so well. They sacrificed for those who were in need. They gave, and when they had nothing left, they gave some more.
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.” Acts 4:32-35.
We could learn a lesson from the early church. I don’t often think about the things that I could go without so that someone might have. The very core of serving is that nothing belongs to us. We are only stewards of what belongs to God . . . our time, our gifts, our skills, our resources. We should hold them loosely in order for Him to bless and minister to the broken around us.
So whether you are the one asking or the one being asked, it is all an offering to the Lord.
It is in these times, when I know He sees me. And I know He knows me. And I know He loves me.
He sees you.
He knows you.
He loves you.
Love by Roy Lesen
I want to love those around me well. I bet you do too. It doesn’t matter if I know someone or not, God’s heart for them is that they are loved well by His children.
I have reflected on my life in its various seasons. In every hard season, He was always been faithful to bring someone into my life to love me well. And I remember the significance of how my friends have served me.
Their help has ranged from:
praying for me
giving me wise counsel
buying me groceries
helping me move to a new apartment
paying for my rent when I was laid off
letting me sleep on their sofa so I wouldn’t be homeless
Now, I will be the first to admit that I struggle with a little thing called pride. I am ridiculously independent and self sufficient. I actually pride myself in it. But, the Lord has gently humbled me over the years. I have learned to ask for help, especially when I don’t want to — and to accept help when it is offered. I won’t lie and say that it is easy for me to do that now, but I pretty much just take a deep breath and let it happen.
There is a blessing in both receiving and in giving.
The Lord let some simple, yet deep truths settle in to my heart, it’s not about the size of what He asks of me, it’s about the surrender of my heart when I obey Him:
“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35.
Some of the ways that my friends have loved me may seem large, and maybe they were, but it doesn’t always have to be some grand gesture. The prayer a friend offers will touch my heart just as much as someone paying my rent. The simple act of them loving me and asking if they could bless me makes feel valued by Father God and by my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Asking shows someone they are seen.
“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.'” Genesis 16:13.
I often feel as though no one sees me. I don’t get the invite. I don’t win the award. I don’t receive a Thank You for a job well done. I am not the most popular person. I don’t have the biggest platform. All of that can weigh heavy on me at times. And when I am hurting, that feeling is magnified.
When we see a need of someone and we ask if we can help them, we show them they are seen and known by us and a loving Father.
Asking shows someone God’s design for authentic community.
The early church had it right. They loved each other so well. They sacrificed for those who were in need. They gave, and when they had nothing left, they gave some more.
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.” Acts 4:32-35.
We could learn a lesson from the early church. I don’t often think about the things that I could go without so that someone might have. The very core of serving is that nothing belongs to us. We are only stewards of what belongs to God . . . our time, our gifts, our skills, our resources. We should hold them loosely in order for Him to bless and minister to the broken around us.
So whether you are the one asking or the one being asked, it is all an offering to the Lord.
It is in these times, when I know He sees me. And I know He knows me. And I know He loves me.
He sees you.
He knows you.
He loves you.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
God Can
July 1
God Can by Roy Lesen
God can—
Turn the darkness into glory…
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them…Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:8-14
Turn the impossible into possible…
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God…For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:34-37
Turn the barren into blessing…
What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. Luke 1:36
Turn the common into remarkable…
And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast…. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. Luke 2:42-47
Turn the work into worship…
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
Turn the hopeless into hope…
But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43.
God Can by Roy Lesen
God can—
Turn the darkness into glory…
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them…Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:8-14
Turn the impossible into possible…
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God…For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:34-37
Turn the barren into blessing…
What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. Luke 1:36
Turn the common into remarkable…
And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast…. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. Luke 2:42-47
Turn the work into worship…
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
Turn the hopeless into hope…
But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)