God loves us so much! He is daily sending out His messages of love and hope, if we just had ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to understand. Jeremiah received a message of hope in a mundane transaction of real estate. How often we miss these things because we're not expecting them.
Are you in the midst of disaster? Turn to God. He is the God of restoration.
Are you suffering from depression? I am your hope, says the Lord.
Are you being disciplined? "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34
In Christ we have a new covenant, the promise of God's goodness forever. Even if you feel like you are at the bottom of the ocean. . . weighed down by impossible circumstances and crushed by unbearable heaviness. . . God is with you, and nothing is too hard for Him. Do you feel separated from God's love? There are bubbles all around you! Take these to your heart, for they contain the oxygen of hope that will sustain you until He comes and lifts you up.
"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good" Jeremiah 31: 40-41a NKJV
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Monday, October 18, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
August 7, 2010 Random Thoughts of Encouragement
I found a personal encouragement in each section today:
Ezra -- God can and will deal with a government that is hindering a labor given by God: this is personally applicable for us, as Bob's business has been directly hindered by State government being slow, and totally ignorant; and it was a business given to us by prophecy.
Corinthians -- I'm God's fellow laborer. That doesn't make me better than anyone else, it just means that God is doing His part in giving increase. I'm the temple of the Holy Spirit: His refining fire is working all the time to burn off stuff that doesn't please Him. If I hang in there with Him, I'll have some gold and silver and precious stones to offer Him in the end.
Psalms -- I'm just in awe of the voice of God! The power, beauty and majesty of His voice is compelling beyond all other sounds. Whenever I hear Him, I am moved to worship Him. I can see, hear, touch, feel and sometimes even taste His voice. I want more.
Proverbs -- I just got this picture of the Lord walking around in my unconscious holding up a lamp. He's not leaving a single corner, closet or cubbyhole untouched by His light. There is nothing hidden or unknown to Him, so I don't have to fear what might be lurking around in there. I'm encouraged to cooperate with Him and let Him completely in.
It's just not possible to read God's word and not get something, if you're open. If you're not getting anything real and personal from Him everyday, ask yourself this question:
Am I willing to receive whatever the Lord has to say to me today?
Ezra -- God can and will deal with a government that is hindering a labor given by God: this is personally applicable for us, as Bob's business has been directly hindered by State government being slow, and totally ignorant; and it was a business given to us by prophecy.
Corinthians -- I'm God's fellow laborer. That doesn't make me better than anyone else, it just means that God is doing His part in giving increase. I'm the temple of the Holy Spirit: His refining fire is working all the time to burn off stuff that doesn't please Him. If I hang in there with Him, I'll have some gold and silver and precious stones to offer Him in the end.
Psalms -- I'm just in awe of the voice of God! The power, beauty and majesty of His voice is compelling beyond all other sounds. Whenever I hear Him, I am moved to worship Him. I can see, hear, touch, feel and sometimes even taste His voice. I want more.
Proverbs -- I just got this picture of the Lord walking around in my unconscious holding up a lamp. He's not leaving a single corner, closet or cubbyhole untouched by His light. There is nothing hidden or unknown to Him, so I don't have to fear what might be lurking around in there. I'm encouraged to cooperate with Him and let Him completely in.
It's just not possible to read God's word and not get something, if you're open. If you're not getting anything real and personal from Him everyday, ask yourself this question:
Am I willing to receive whatever the Lord has to say to me today?
Friday, July 30, 2010
July 30, 2010 Wearing The Armor of Light
I never noticed before that the passage which says to "put on Christ" is the same passage that says to "put on the armor of light." I think that's awesome! In order to wear this armor, we have to put off the works of darkness. These works are related to being asleep, as the world is. When we're awake, we're walking in love, and this isn't compatible with the works of the flesh, which is the self-centeredness of the fallen nature. Once we've awakened to the reality of our salvation, and we get dressed with the brilliant glory of Christ, what darkness can overcome us?
Again, I'm struck with the prophetic vision of David. He had a relationship with Christ even then, and understood the armor of light. He had no need to fear when he found himself in a dark valley shadowed with evil, enemies, and death. "Dwelling in the house of the Lord forever" takes on a deeper meaning when we understand that it's not necessary to get rid of our natural bodies in order to live in a divine tent of perpetual light that goes wherever we go.
"You are with me" becomes a little more intimate when we're thinking of wearing Christ! It also becomes more public. There's no hiding our salvation or our relationship with the Savior when we're wearing the armor of light! The days of "my faith is personal" (meaning "I don't share it with anyone") are over! When you're dressed in light, can you help but be noticed by people who are in the dark? They might be afraid and run away, but many will be drawn to the light that covers you.
Jesus lives in us by His Word and Spirit when we're born again. But salvation has to be more than just an inner belief, as we have discussed earlier. Having light than shines out from the inside and covers us from the outside is the only effective way to be a witness for Christ. If you're dark, you stay hidden in darkness and nobody notices you. Not to mention how Jesus feels about that! The times we walk around incognito are basically times we're denying that we know Him. I'm not saying we have to be religious about our witnessing! I've known people who talked a lot about the Lord, but were essentially walking in darkness. I've been there myself-- and as "easy" as it is to be asleep, being in the dark is torment when you're a child a God.
The devil feeds on "dust" (Genesis 3:14) which is our self-nature; when we don't put off the works of darkness, he can get us even more entangled in webs of deception, addiction and bitterness than we were before we got "saved." When he's prowling around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), he's looking for someone who's not defended, not wearing their armor of light. When we're walking in love, and therefore in the light, we're well defended and have nothing to fear.
Putting our armor on is much more than a morning ritual! Just declaring that we have put on our helmet of salvation, etc., isn't what gets us clothed in light! It's waking up to what salvation really is, and making a command decision to leave the darkness behind. It's called repentance.
We are the children of light! The true light lives in us. Christ's love is shiny and wonderfully resistant to attack. Let's start a fashion trend and wear the light! Shine, shine, shine!
Again, I'm struck with the prophetic vision of David. He had a relationship with Christ even then, and understood the armor of light. He had no need to fear when he found himself in a dark valley shadowed with evil, enemies, and death. "Dwelling in the house of the Lord forever" takes on a deeper meaning when we understand that it's not necessary to get rid of our natural bodies in order to live in a divine tent of perpetual light that goes wherever we go.
"You are with me" becomes a little more intimate when we're thinking of wearing Christ! It also becomes more public. There's no hiding our salvation or our relationship with the Savior when we're wearing the armor of light! The days of "my faith is personal" (meaning "I don't share it with anyone") are over! When you're dressed in light, can you help but be noticed by people who are in the dark? They might be afraid and run away, but many will be drawn to the light that covers you.
Jesus lives in us by His Word and Spirit when we're born again. But salvation has to be more than just an inner belief, as we have discussed earlier. Having light than shines out from the inside and covers us from the outside is the only effective way to be a witness for Christ. If you're dark, you stay hidden in darkness and nobody notices you. Not to mention how Jesus feels about that! The times we walk around incognito are basically times we're denying that we know Him. I'm not saying we have to be religious about our witnessing! I've known people who talked a lot about the Lord, but were essentially walking in darkness. I've been there myself-- and as "easy" as it is to be asleep, being in the dark is torment when you're a child a God.
The devil feeds on "dust" (Genesis 3:14) which is our self-nature; when we don't put off the works of darkness, he can get us even more entangled in webs of deception, addiction and bitterness than we were before we got "saved." When he's prowling around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), he's looking for someone who's not defended, not wearing their armor of light. When we're walking in love, and therefore in the light, we're well defended and have nothing to fear.
Putting our armor on is much more than a morning ritual! Just declaring that we have put on our helmet of salvation, etc., isn't what gets us clothed in light! It's waking up to what salvation really is, and making a command decision to leave the darkness behind. It's called repentance.
We are the children of light! The true light lives in us. Christ's love is shiny and wonderfully resistant to attack. Let's start a fashion trend and wear the light! Shine, shine, shine!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
July 6, 2010 Reaching Your Highest Platform
Thinking about Paul today, pondering the events that led up to where he is now in our readings, made me think about how a person gains "a platform," or influence with a certain audience. The Proverb passage was, again, wonderfully relevant and light-shedding.
"A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men." Proverbs 18:16 NKJV This seems like a top-tier platform of influence, and the Apostle Paul certainly reached it. He had a gift for explaining God's message in a way that was life-changing and relevant to the people he was speaking to. He obviously had a calling from God to reach many people in many nations, and even powerful men in government.
Paul had to put his faith in action, however, or he never would have reached this platform. Not only did he have to work up to the envisioned platform, he had to take great risks to get there. He was willing to accept imprisonment and even death in order to reach the people he had seen himself speaking to. God gave him the vision, but he had to do what it took to reach it. He did it God's way, and not the world's way, and we're told of many instances of God's direct leading.
We are not all called to stand and speak to the president, or to sing and dance before a multitude. But I think we could interpret the above proverb to mean "a person's gift will make room for him or her and take them where they are meant to go." My understanding is that each of us has God-given gifts (spiritual and natural), that have a potential built into them that matches our God-given capacity to represent Him on a platform that is optimized for us.
We each have an area of influence of some kind. People are interdependent; we cannot help affecting or influencing someone at some time, even when we're children. Relationship and influence are part of God's nature and character, and He is growing us up to be influential in our world. What we do with our influence is, of course, greatly related to our growth and development. Influence and an actual "platform" are two different things, even though they are related.
We are prepared throughout life to use our influence on a platform of wider influence, when we are ready. I'll use myself as an example: as a child, I was practicing all the things I do now that have become platforms of a somewhat wider influence. I drew pictures, wrote poems, made up stories for my sisters and I to play (make-believe), and made up songs on the piano. I do the same things now, just with more skill and with more to "show and tell." There were training platforms, such as talent shows and school leadership, that taught me the need to rely on God's strength instead of my own (this is an ongoing lesson!). I've learned, over the years, that God moves through my spiritual gifts and shines through my natural ones.
Whatever I do now is also practice for the future. Only God knows completely what my potential and capacity really are, and to what platforms He is leading me to in the future. I can only be faithful on the platform He has given me now, and take the next steps towards the future vision He has given. What I see in the future motivates me to keep growing. He knows how much I need to see right now, and He gives me that and no more. He always seems to give me things to do that are right on the edge of what I am capable of at present. I enjoy the things I do, as long as I am leaning on Him and relating to Him constantly as I do them. Allowing Him to move and shine through my gifts, on the platforms He gives me, gives me a sense of purpose and a feeling of satisfaction in my daily life.
Think about your own life and see how you've developed into a person with greater influence. Do you feel satisfaction as well as a desire to grow into the next phase? Or do you feel disappointed at the loss of your dreams? Are you doing the things you are gifted in, or are you stuck doing things you dislike just to make ends meet?
I have been, more than once, stuck and disappointed with my life. But God has always been there for me and redeemed my darkest hours. He is faithful, and He has a plan to get you into a more hopeful, creative, fulfilling place in life. He is greater than any of your circumstances or problems, even ones you've created yourself. If you're lost, He's already found you. If you're floundering, He's already made a way. Call out to Him and listen for His reply. If you come to Him in humility, and you are willing to take risks at His direction, you will eventually find yourself in a place of joy and wider influence. Maybe you will even reach your greatest potential and your highest platform.
"A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men." Proverbs 18:16 NKJV This seems like a top-tier platform of influence, and the Apostle Paul certainly reached it. He had a gift for explaining God's message in a way that was life-changing and relevant to the people he was speaking to. He obviously had a calling from God to reach many people in many nations, and even powerful men in government.
Paul had to put his faith in action, however, or he never would have reached this platform. Not only did he have to work up to the envisioned platform, he had to take great risks to get there. He was willing to accept imprisonment and even death in order to reach the people he had seen himself speaking to. God gave him the vision, but he had to do what it took to reach it. He did it God's way, and not the world's way, and we're told of many instances of God's direct leading.
We are not all called to stand and speak to the president, or to sing and dance before a multitude. But I think we could interpret the above proverb to mean "a person's gift will make room for him or her and take them where they are meant to go." My understanding is that each of us has God-given gifts (spiritual and natural), that have a potential built into them that matches our God-given capacity to represent Him on a platform that is optimized for us.
We each have an area of influence of some kind. People are interdependent; we cannot help affecting or influencing someone at some time, even when we're children. Relationship and influence are part of God's nature and character, and He is growing us up to be influential in our world. What we do with our influence is, of course, greatly related to our growth and development. Influence and an actual "platform" are two different things, even though they are related.
We are prepared throughout life to use our influence on a platform of wider influence, when we are ready. I'll use myself as an example: as a child, I was practicing all the things I do now that have become platforms of a somewhat wider influence. I drew pictures, wrote poems, made up stories for my sisters and I to play (make-believe), and made up songs on the piano. I do the same things now, just with more skill and with more to "show and tell." There were training platforms, such as talent shows and school leadership, that taught me the need to rely on God's strength instead of my own (this is an ongoing lesson!). I've learned, over the years, that God moves through my spiritual gifts and shines through my natural ones.
Whatever I do now is also practice for the future. Only God knows completely what my potential and capacity really are, and to what platforms He is leading me to in the future. I can only be faithful on the platform He has given me now, and take the next steps towards the future vision He has given. What I see in the future motivates me to keep growing. He knows how much I need to see right now, and He gives me that and no more. He always seems to give me things to do that are right on the edge of what I am capable of at present. I enjoy the things I do, as long as I am leaning on Him and relating to Him constantly as I do them. Allowing Him to move and shine through my gifts, on the platforms He gives me, gives me a sense of purpose and a feeling of satisfaction in my daily life.
Think about your own life and see how you've developed into a person with greater influence. Do you feel satisfaction as well as a desire to grow into the next phase? Or do you feel disappointed at the loss of your dreams? Are you doing the things you are gifted in, or are you stuck doing things you dislike just to make ends meet?
I have been, more than once, stuck and disappointed with my life. But God has always been there for me and redeemed my darkest hours. He is faithful, and He has a plan to get you into a more hopeful, creative, fulfilling place in life. He is greater than any of your circumstances or problems, even ones you've created yourself. If you're lost, He's already found you. If you're floundering, He's already made a way. Call out to Him and listen for His reply. If you come to Him in humility, and you are willing to take risks at His direction, you will eventually find yourself in a place of joy and wider influence. Maybe you will even reach your greatest potential and your highest platform.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
June 16, 2010 Politics, Prophets and Provision
It's troubling to me to read about the dreadful split between Judah and Israel, and of the horrendous works of the evil kings. It makes me sad to realize it was all due to Solomon's wandering heart and idolatry later in his life. With all his wisdom, he should have known better. It just goes to show that "you can fall from any level," as Rick Joyner said in The Final Quest. How serious we need to be in maintaining the fear of the Lord, and a pure love for Him and His Word!
All the turmoil of those Old Testament days reminds me of modern times, even of American politics. If you look just under the surface of current events, you will see the seeds of civil war. The trouble is, so many of the issues are spiritual, just as they were back in Ahab's day. God's people today seem to have just as much trouble in dealing with ungodliness in society and government as they did in Bible times. Why is that, I wonder? Do you think, perhaps, that most of us are just too concerned with trying to survive to do anything to confront the evils that are trying to gain power over us, individually and as a nation? [and I'm not talking about "rebellion," I'm talking about submitting to God and following Him.]
In order to be free from evil domination, we will have to be willing to see what is really happening around us and to us. We will have to be willing to see evil, not close our eyes to it. Seeing it and liking it, or just going along with it (as well as simply closing our eyes to it), is what leads us into slavery. Seeing it and hating it is the beginning of getting free.
God expects us to love what He loves and hate what He hates. This, of course, must be established in our own personal life, but after that, what? I would say, no matter what, start with prayer. Prayer is the launch pad. None of us will know what He is doing, or what we ourselves are to do, without seeking the Lord in prayer. If you don't really trust God, now's the time to dig down into the Word and get your roots planted into Him. Every time you obey Him, you get a little more rooted. You're going to have to trust Him in order to stand godly in the evil day.
The truth is, while Christ's Kingdom is being established on earth, the worldly kingdoms are crumbling. Can you feel the foundations being shaken? Do you see the chaos beginning to take hold of the world's systems? Of course, all those with worldly power, not to mention the evil spiritual entities that hold sway over the nations, are trying to tighten their grip. Controls will strengthen, and when people rebel against control, flattery will try to win them-- but only so that even greater control can be exercised. There's no getting away from this. It's the times we're in! That's why it's so important to see the Kingdom of God and go for it. It's time to see what kingdoms are what, and choose.
Whatever you're called to do in the Kingdom of God, God has provision for you. It takes a lot of courage to take a stand for God in evil times, or even to support one who openly does. But as Jesus said, Be not afraid! We saw how the Lord provided for Elijah-- He sent ravens to feed him! Then He asked a poor widow to care for him, and miraculously provided for her too. Not only was there enough food for them, but there was also provision for healing (her son was raised). Even if the Lord were to call for judgments (such as famine) against an idolatrous nation, His people will be provided for if they will trust Him and obey Him.
As we read in the story of Peter and Cornelius, the Lord even has communications covered: prayer, the leading of the Holy Spirit, visions, and angelic visitations will keep God's people "in the know" and the Kingdom of God running according to His plan. And remember how Stephen got transported by the Spirit, and he just found himself somewhere? Who needs cars, planes, cell phones and the internet when you have such efficient modes of communication and travel? We might as well get used to it-- we're called to live in a supernatural Kingdom! It's not science fiction, it's real! We'll see more and more of it as the return of the King draws nearer.
I know it's normal to say, "Well, I'm not Elijah! Maybe that guy over there is!" but each of us has been given a place of authority in our life, whether large or small; and in this place of rule, we are each called to declare the Word of the Lord and to resist evil, no matter what the apparent cost. We must trust the Lord to provide all that is needed, even when the world from which we have been gaining our support is falling down around our ears.
"And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead." Acts 10:42
All the turmoil of those Old Testament days reminds me of modern times, even of American politics. If you look just under the surface of current events, you will see the seeds of civil war. The trouble is, so many of the issues are spiritual, just as they were back in Ahab's day. God's people today seem to have just as much trouble in dealing with ungodliness in society and government as they did in Bible times. Why is that, I wonder? Do you think, perhaps, that most of us are just too concerned with trying to survive to do anything to confront the evils that are trying to gain power over us, individually and as a nation? [and I'm not talking about "rebellion," I'm talking about submitting to God and following Him.]
In order to be free from evil domination, we will have to be willing to see what is really happening around us and to us. We will have to be willing to see evil, not close our eyes to it. Seeing it and liking it, or just going along with it (as well as simply closing our eyes to it), is what leads us into slavery. Seeing it and hating it is the beginning of getting free.
God expects us to love what He loves and hate what He hates. This, of course, must be established in our own personal life, but after that, what? I would say, no matter what, start with prayer. Prayer is the launch pad. None of us will know what He is doing, or what we ourselves are to do, without seeking the Lord in prayer. If you don't really trust God, now's the time to dig down into the Word and get your roots planted into Him. Every time you obey Him, you get a little more rooted. You're going to have to trust Him in order to stand godly in the evil day.
The truth is, while Christ's Kingdom is being established on earth, the worldly kingdoms are crumbling. Can you feel the foundations being shaken? Do you see the chaos beginning to take hold of the world's systems? Of course, all those with worldly power, not to mention the evil spiritual entities that hold sway over the nations, are trying to tighten their grip. Controls will strengthen, and when people rebel against control, flattery will try to win them-- but only so that even greater control can be exercised. There's no getting away from this. It's the times we're in! That's why it's so important to see the Kingdom of God and go for it. It's time to see what kingdoms are what, and choose.
Whatever you're called to do in the Kingdom of God, God has provision for you. It takes a lot of courage to take a stand for God in evil times, or even to support one who openly does. But as Jesus said, Be not afraid! We saw how the Lord provided for Elijah-- He sent ravens to feed him! Then He asked a poor widow to care for him, and miraculously provided for her too. Not only was there enough food for them, but there was also provision for healing (her son was raised). Even if the Lord were to call for judgments (such as famine) against an idolatrous nation, His people will be provided for if they will trust Him and obey Him.
As we read in the story of Peter and Cornelius, the Lord even has communications covered: prayer, the leading of the Holy Spirit, visions, and angelic visitations will keep God's people "in the know" and the Kingdom of God running according to His plan. And remember how Stephen got transported by the Spirit, and he just found himself somewhere? Who needs cars, planes, cell phones and the internet when you have such efficient modes of communication and travel? We might as well get used to it-- we're called to live in a supernatural Kingdom! It's not science fiction, it's real! We'll see more and more of it as the return of the King draws nearer.
I know it's normal to say, "Well, I'm not Elijah! Maybe that guy over there is!" but each of us has been given a place of authority in our life, whether large or small; and in this place of rule, we are each called to declare the Word of the Lord and to resist evil, no matter what the apparent cost. We must trust the Lord to provide all that is needed, even when the world from which we have been gaining our support is falling down around our ears.
"And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead." Acts 10:42
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