Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Time to introspect
If you happen to read this blog from time to time I hope it has been a blessing. I will not be publishing anything new anytime soon as I feel it is time for self analysis. I suggest you pick up something online or from the library by Vernon Howard or Guy Finley. I think I've read every book published by both of these gentlemen, and I'm impressed. May you experience every good thing God intended for you. Love - Stuart
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Everyday miracles
Words to live by... Genesis 21:6-8
How about that God of ours? Think about a woman ninety years old breast feeding her newborn! Is this some crazy stuff or what? It is not so much about whether or not God can do the impossible, it's much more about whether or not we can believe Him. We need a revival of trust. I'm wondering about those of us who say we have trusted in God for salvation, but we are hard pressed to trust Him in our present situation. These Old Testament stories are little more than fairy tales if you and I don't completely trust God with what is happening in our lives right now – today. We can rejoice in the miraculous, and divine intervention in Sarah's life, only when we are prepared to rejoice in the hope God brings into our present situation. Remember, Sarah was ninety years old when this story takes place. How long had she waited? Our miracle sometimes requires 'grace in the waiting.' Don't just exist between the big miracles. Learn to appreciate the miracle of life everyday. It was God who woke us up this morning. It's by His grace we are not in the hospital, or some other institution for convalescing. Do you have clean water, hot water, something to eat, someone who hugs you from time to time? Then truly you are blessed. It's your miracle.
How about that God of ours? Think about a woman ninety years old breast feeding her newborn! Is this some crazy stuff or what? It is not so much about whether or not God can do the impossible, it's much more about whether or not we can believe Him. We need a revival of trust. I'm wondering about those of us who say we have trusted in God for salvation, but we are hard pressed to trust Him in our present situation. These Old Testament stories are little more than fairy tales if you and I don't completely trust God with what is happening in our lives right now – today. We can rejoice in the miraculous, and divine intervention in Sarah's life, only when we are prepared to rejoice in the hope God brings into our present situation. Remember, Sarah was ninety years old when this story takes place. How long had she waited? Our miracle sometimes requires 'grace in the waiting.' Don't just exist between the big miracles. Learn to appreciate the miracle of life everyday. It was God who woke us up this morning. It's by His grace we are not in the hospital, or some other institution for convalescing. Do you have clean water, hot water, something to eat, someone who hugs you from time to time? Then truly you are blessed. It's your miracle.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Promises, promises
Words to live by… Genesis 21:1-5
Isn’t God incredible? No matter how bleak our situation may be we know God is going to keep his promise to us. When our faith is challenged God proves himself faithful. Sarah could not possibly give birth at ninety years old. Abraham found it so hard to believe God’s promise of a son that he bought into Sarah’s plan to help God work it out through Hagar. Did God need their help? Does he ever need us to work out the details of his promises? No. The answer is NO. Our responsibility is to ‘trust’ God. That’s our greatest weakness and strength. When we don’t trust him, we can really thwart his plans for us. When we do trust him we become a shining example to the unbeliever, and gain spiritual strength. God really requires very little of us. Our main focus needs to be on loving others and resting in God’s promises. It comes down to - not what we are, but who we are. Whether we work as a grocer, lawyer, doctor, homemaker, or anything in-between, our relationship with God is what positions us in the Kingdom. Power with God is not wrapped up in a title or career, but rather our understanding of who we are in Christ. We are His children. We are the apple of His eye--highly favored children and destined to rule and reign eternally as Kings and Priests. Enjoy the promise.
Isn’t God incredible? No matter how bleak our situation may be we know God is going to keep his promise to us. When our faith is challenged God proves himself faithful. Sarah could not possibly give birth at ninety years old. Abraham found it so hard to believe God’s promise of a son that he bought into Sarah’s plan to help God work it out through Hagar. Did God need their help? Does he ever need us to work out the details of his promises? No. The answer is NO. Our responsibility is to ‘trust’ God. That’s our greatest weakness and strength. When we don’t trust him, we can really thwart his plans for us. When we do trust him we become a shining example to the unbeliever, and gain spiritual strength. God really requires very little of us. Our main focus needs to be on loving others and resting in God’s promises. It comes down to - not what we are, but who we are. Whether we work as a grocer, lawyer, doctor, homemaker, or anything in-between, our relationship with God is what positions us in the Kingdom. Power with God is not wrapped up in a title or career, but rather our understanding of who we are in Christ. We are His children. We are the apple of His eye--highly favored children and destined to rule and reign eternally as Kings and Priests. Enjoy the promise.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
God took our punishment
Word’s to live by… Genesis 20:6
The entire twentieth chapter of Genesis is an interesting account of Abraham’s fear of losing his wife and life. The verse we want to highlight is verse 6 in which God reveals his perception of sin. Speaking to King Abimelech (concerning the fact that Abimelech didn’t violate Abraham’s wife), God said, “Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me!” Who is it that gives us the power to resist temptation? We must understand that God takes sin personally. (He died to take the punishment for all of it!) What will we do with this knowledge? God doesn’t want us to live in condemnation, shame or guilt. Instead, he desires that we receive the gift of eternal life, forgiveness and live in relationship with him. When we sin, and we will, it’s out of selfishness and ingratitude. We cannot live a life free from sin, but we can strive to totally fill our life with God. We can be so busy doing Kingdom work that it really cramps our style to take the time to sin. We can have as much of him as we desire. Notice God said to Abimelech, “for I also withheld thee from sinning against me.” God not only paid for our sin, but also empowered us with his spirit to keep us from it. It is our vibrant relationship with God that will keep us from sin. Without this, our efforts are futile.
The entire twentieth chapter of Genesis is an interesting account of Abraham’s fear of losing his wife and life. The verse we want to highlight is verse 6 in which God reveals his perception of sin. Speaking to King Abimelech (concerning the fact that Abimelech didn’t violate Abraham’s wife), God said, “Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me!” Who is it that gives us the power to resist temptation? We must understand that God takes sin personally. (He died to take the punishment for all of it!) What will we do with this knowledge? God doesn’t want us to live in condemnation, shame or guilt. Instead, he desires that we receive the gift of eternal life, forgiveness and live in relationship with him. When we sin, and we will, it’s out of selfishness and ingratitude. We cannot live a life free from sin, but we can strive to totally fill our life with God. We can be so busy doing Kingdom work that it really cramps our style to take the time to sin. We can have as much of him as we desire. Notice God said to Abimelech, “for I also withheld thee from sinning against me.” God not only paid for our sin, but also empowered us with his spirit to keep us from it. It is our vibrant relationship with God that will keep us from sin. Without this, our efforts are futile.
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