Psalms 31:19-20 (NLT) 31:19 How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. 20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.
Every one needs a safe place – away from all the troubles life brings us. It’s one thing to say that we trust God. It’s another to believe that He is actually going to do what He says. Our eyes see the bad in situations and in people. We don’t see God’s provision and blessing that God promises to His children. The world can be very harsh at times. It can drain you of your physical and spiritual energy. We need to realize that God wants to “hide” us in His presence – away from those who would try to harm and accuse you. Our hearts should be like David – “How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you."
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Judging People
1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
I have to admit that I’m guilty in regards to this. I have often judged people before getting to know them. I think that over the years I’ve gotten better at not doing this but I still slip every once in a while. It’s disgusting. It’s shameful. I don’t want people doing that to me and I don’t want to do it to others. I’m so glad that God sees beyond that and sees us through His eyes and not my own. I am so blessed to be surrounded by people who love me just for who I am and I want to do the same for others. There are so many awesome people that have such good and huge hearts. It’s not about the appearance – contrary to worldly standards. It’s about the heart that is right with God and loving toward others. I want that heart in my life and I want to develop that heart toward others.
I have to admit that I’m guilty in regards to this. I have often judged people before getting to know them. I think that over the years I’ve gotten better at not doing this but I still slip every once in a while. It’s disgusting. It’s shameful. I don’t want people doing that to me and I don’t want to do it to others. I’m so glad that God sees beyond that and sees us through His eyes and not my own. I am so blessed to be surrounded by people who love me just for who I am and I want to do the same for others. There are so many awesome people that have such good and huge hearts. It’s not about the appearance – contrary to worldly standards. It’s about the heart that is right with God and loving toward others. I want that heart in my life and I want to develop that heart toward others.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Joy Is A Choice!
Joy Is A Choice
2 Corinthians 13:11-14 (NLT) 13:11 Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet each other with Christian love. 13 All of God’s people here send you their greetings. 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
What would you say to someone knowing that it would be your last words to them? We might say, “Hang in there” or “Good Luck” or “I’m praying for you,” etc. Those are all good but notice what Paul tells the Corinthians:1- Choose Joy 2- Keep growing 3- Be an encourager 4- Live in peace. In doing these things he gives a promise that the God of love and peace would be with them. We all make choices in our lives whether good or bad. It’s interesting though that Paul tells us that Joy is a choice that we make for ourselves. Life might be hard or perhaps life has thrown you a lot of curves. Choose joy. Decide to keep growing in the Lord. Keep giving of yourself to others. Make it your highest priority to live in peace. Finally – Paul says… “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
2 Corinthians 13:11-14 (NLT) 13:11 Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet each other with Christian love. 13 All of God’s people here send you their greetings. 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
What would you say to someone knowing that it would be your last words to them? We might say, “Hang in there” or “Good Luck” or “I’m praying for you,” etc. Those are all good but notice what Paul tells the Corinthians:1- Choose Joy 2- Keep growing 3- Be an encourager 4- Live in peace. In doing these things he gives a promise that the God of love and peace would be with them. We all make choices in our lives whether good or bad. It’s interesting though that Paul tells us that Joy is a choice that we make for ourselves. Life might be hard or perhaps life has thrown you a lot of curves. Choose joy. Decide to keep growing in the Lord. Keep giving of yourself to others. Make it your highest priority to live in peace. Finally – Paul says… “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Speak Lord, I Am Listening
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (NLT) 3:1 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the LORD by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the LORD were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. 2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. 4 Suddenly the LORD called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” 5 He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did. 6 Then the LORD called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.” 7 Samuel did not yet know the LORD because he had never had a message from the LORD before. 8 So the LORD called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. 10 And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
I think most people identify with this story in one way or another. We have all found ourselves in a place where God was trying to speak to us but we weren’t listening. Sometimes we are distracted with other things. Perhaps, it could be that we, like Samuel, have not trained ourselves to hear the voice of the Lord. It also might be because of sin in our life that we don’t want to deal with. Whatever the reason – we should know that God is wanting to speak to us and wanting us to hear his voice. It’s interesting – when Samuel final said, “Speak, your servant is listening” that God actually had something to say to Him. I am praying for God to speak to me in a fresh and new way and that I wouldn’t do anything to hinder his voice in my life, however quiet it might be. Speak Lord, your servant is listening.
I think most people identify with this story in one way or another. We have all found ourselves in a place where God was trying to speak to us but we weren’t listening. Sometimes we are distracted with other things. Perhaps, it could be that we, like Samuel, have not trained ourselves to hear the voice of the Lord. It also might be because of sin in our life that we don’t want to deal with. Whatever the reason – we should know that God is wanting to speak to us and wanting us to hear his voice. It’s interesting – when Samuel final said, “Speak, your servant is listening” that God actually had something to say to Him. I am praying for God to speak to me in a fresh and new way and that I wouldn’t do anything to hinder his voice in my life, however quiet it might be. Speak Lord, your servant is listening.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
My Frustrations
2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (NLT) 6:11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. 12 There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. 13 I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!
I love my job but it can at times be a little frustrating. I believe that God has given me a big heart to love others but oftentimes people don’t want to be loved. Instead they push you away. Past hurts, past trust issues, and sin all become factors in this. I try to reach out in love to everyone I come in contact with. There are those who respond back and there are those who push you away. It’s absolutely amazing when people let their walls down and let you into their “space.” It breaks my heart to see people pull back and not want any relationship or help. I see the hurt that they are in but feel helpless because they are so closed down. Paul’s plead – “Open your hearts to us” is often my cry. I pray that people would drop their walls and let others in so they can be made whole.
I love my job but it can at times be a little frustrating. I believe that God has given me a big heart to love others but oftentimes people don’t want to be loved. Instead they push you away. Past hurts, past trust issues, and sin all become factors in this. I try to reach out in love to everyone I come in contact with. There are those who respond back and there are those who push you away. It’s absolutely amazing when people let their walls down and let you into their “space.” It breaks my heart to see people pull back and not want any relationship or help. I see the hurt that they are in but feel helpless because they are so closed down. Paul’s plead – “Open your hearts to us” is often my cry. I pray that people would drop their walls and let others in so they can be made whole.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Safe With God
Psalms 61:1-4 (NLT) 61:1 O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! 2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, 3 for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. 4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed? Have you ever felt like you just wanted to get away from everything and from every body? David felt this and knew that his only help was from God. He knew that God was the only one who could answer him and the only one who could guarantee his safety. He knew that his safety was in the shelter of God’s wings – in God’s sanctuary. Like David we have often felt overwhelmed. God hears our cries. He hears our prayers. He is your fortress today. Run to Him with all your heart. Let Him surround you and protect you today. Let His love be your strength and let it give you courage. God is your rock today. Trust in Him.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed? Have you ever felt like you just wanted to get away from everything and from every body? David felt this and knew that his only help was from God. He knew that God was the only one who could answer him and the only one who could guarantee his safety. He knew that his safety was in the shelter of God’s wings – in God’s sanctuary. Like David we have often felt overwhelmed. God hears our cries. He hears our prayers. He is your fortress today. Run to Him with all your heart. Let Him surround you and protect you today. Let His love be your strength and let it give you courage. God is your rock today. Trust in Him.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
We Know
2 Corinthians 4:14 (NLT) We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.
We know. When we accepted Christ Jesus into our hearts the Holy Spirit was released to remind us that the same resurrection power of Jesus resides in each of us. We know. We have a hope that we didn’t use to have. We have a wonderful future in store for us ahead. We know. As we enter into this Easter season – we know. The same power that lifted Christ is the same power that has been released into our lives. We can rest assured and be blessed today.
We know. When we accepted Christ Jesus into our hearts the Holy Spirit was released to remind us that the same resurrection power of Jesus resides in each of us. We know. We have a hope that we didn’t use to have. We have a wonderful future in store for us ahead. We know. As we enter into this Easter season – we know. The same power that lifted Christ is the same power that has been released into our lives. We can rest assured and be blessed today.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Growing Through Difficulties
2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (NLT) 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. 8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.
No one is exempt from trials. Everyone has their share of difficulties as they walk through life. I was pondering over this verse this morning and thought how I’ve changed in my thinking over the years. I remember at one time thinking that I didn’t have very many trials and couldn’t figure out what the big deal was with some people in regards to their trials. How very wrong I was. I also remember the advice my father gave me just before I entered my first pastorate. He said, “Bill, God won’t allow you to cut any corners just because you’re a pastor’s kid. You will have to go around every corner and wont’ be allowed to make take any shortcuts.” I thought my dad was nuts. I thought of myself as the “golden child” who was going out to win the world for Jesus. “Watch out Billy Graham, here I come.” Again… how wrong I was. I used to be cocky, confident and very full of myself. God had to break me over and over again. I was like the little lamb with whom the shepherd had to finally break his leg in order to keep him from going off and doing his own thing. I’ve had to take every corner in life in a hard way and have had to deal with much sorrow. I stand before God today not as some confident person but as a man that has experienced the sovereignty and mercy of God. I know that I can’t do anything unless I have God’s power in my life. God has allowed me to experience sorrow and difficulty so that I would depend on Him and not myself. It is true that I have brokenness in my life, but I’ve been put back together again with God’s Holy Spirit. I don’t take the grace of God lightly. I know that with what God has given me – I now need to give it to others. I know that I’m a blessed man.
No one is exempt from trials. Everyone has their share of difficulties as they walk through life. I was pondering over this verse this morning and thought how I’ve changed in my thinking over the years. I remember at one time thinking that I didn’t have very many trials and couldn’t figure out what the big deal was with some people in regards to their trials. How very wrong I was. I also remember the advice my father gave me just before I entered my first pastorate. He said, “Bill, God won’t allow you to cut any corners just because you’re a pastor’s kid. You will have to go around every corner and wont’ be allowed to make take any shortcuts.” I thought my dad was nuts. I thought of myself as the “golden child” who was going out to win the world for Jesus. “Watch out Billy Graham, here I come.” Again… how wrong I was. I used to be cocky, confident and very full of myself. God had to break me over and over again. I was like the little lamb with whom the shepherd had to finally break his leg in order to keep him from going off and doing his own thing. I’ve had to take every corner in life in a hard way and have had to deal with much sorrow. I stand before God today not as some confident person but as a man that has experienced the sovereignty and mercy of God. I know that I can’t do anything unless I have God’s power in my life. God has allowed me to experience sorrow and difficulty so that I would depend on Him and not myself. It is true that I have brokenness in my life, but I’ve been put back together again with God’s Holy Spirit. I don’t take the grace of God lightly. I know that with what God has given me – I now need to give it to others. I know that I’m a blessed man.
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