Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A Brighter Outlook

Lord Jesus, You've been impressing the word "cynical" on my spirit since yesterday. This, after revealing a picture of "revival" yesterday morning...

I agree that in one, often-times difficult, situation in my life I have become cynical, and that is so displeasing to You. As I have researched the meaning of this word I admit that I have been critical, fault-finding, at the end of my rope some days; disappointed, let down, indifferent and somewhat soured over the things I have seen and experienced.

Lord, I do not like myself this way. I do not want to be cynical any longer - it's making me miserable. I am asking You as my God, my Healer and my Deliverer, to deliver me from this place of oppression. Deliver me to a place of renewed hope, belief in the good will of others, optimism, trust and no doubt. Lord, I want to walk in confidence in You, encouraged and encouraging others, unquestioning. I am in need of a brighter outlook. (Note: The moment I penned that last sentence in my journal, the sun peeked through the window above our front doors and shone over my shoulder onto the notebook as I wrote. Thank You Jesus for the miraculous little things You do to confirm my prayers are heard!)

I know that You O Lord are in control of all things. You have granted me so much freedom and spiritual rest in my life. Do it again I pray. Grant me rest in this Lord Jesus. I want my words, actions and thought life to be pleasing to You, my Rock and my Redeemer. Thank You for revealing to me the error of my ways. Help me to walk with a right heart and spirit in You. Bring revival to my heart I pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Revive Our Hearts O God

"Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways and sinners will turn back to You." Psalm 51:12-13

Read Psalm 51.

Psalm 51 is a psalm of repentance. A psalm that speaks of sinning believers, repentant hearts, forgiveness and cleansing. Upon cleansing from sin, the believer is set free, joy is restored and the heart is made ready to serve the Lord again. It is in learning from our mistakes, truly repenting and changing our ways, that we are able to turn back then and strengthen other believers. We are to teach them what God taught us through our sin, so that they too might realize the error of their ways and turn back to God and do the same.

As I read verses 12-13 again after reading over the psalm, the word "revival" kept resonating. This process - repenting, cleansing, turning back, teaching others, their repenting, their cleasing, their turning back, their teaching others, and so on - equates in my mind to revival. One heart turning back to God, which leads to another heart turning, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another...

Lord Jesus, oh how we need revival in the church. A movement of hearts getting right before You O Lord. Bring it Jesus. Bring revival. Let it begin with me... In Jesus' name, amen.

Monday, March 28, 2011

The Wayward

"The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts." Revelation 9:20-21 

These are a stubborn and wayward people - obviously sold out to the enemy. Though I will already be in the presence of the Lord at this point in history, I pray that God will use my life now to make an impact on those that I can.

Lord Jesus, I need my heart to break for the lost so that I will be more motivated to share the Gospel and see people in need the way You do. The end times are beyond comprehension and Lord, I want to be diligent about pointing people to You. I want to reach them before the enemy has their heart.

Father God, use me to testify of Your goodness to the lost and dying world around me. Use my mouth as Your mouthpiece to share the Gospel boldly and without apology. I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Move My Heart O God

"...the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus, King of Persia..." 2 Chronicles 36:22

Cyrus did not change his own heart's position or motives, and he didn't just change his own mind - the LORD moved his heart to make a proclamation that would permit Jews to return from captivity.

In my humanness I often get selfish and desire my way vs. God's way in things. Just like the King of Persia, I cannot of my own accord or in my own strength, might or power, change my heart either. So, I have taken time to consider the question, where does my heart need to be moved by God? What needs to change in order that my will line up with His? What about yours?

Father God, please move my heart in such a way in the areas where I am out of alignment, and line my will up with Yours I pray. In Jesus' name, amen.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

You Cannot Drink from Two Cups

"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons." 1 Corinthians 10:21

We disgrace the Lord's table when we fellowship with idols. Fellowship with the Lord and fellowship with demons (our idols) cannot be done simultaneously. We must decide who we will set our gaze upon... the Lord, or anything but the Lord, for anything we set before Him in our heart is an idol. Whatever sin we fall prey to habitually is an idol. If we choose to please man over God, man is our idol. Whatever we regularly choose over God Himself, is our god.

If my heart's desire is to be in fellowship with Christ, and dine at His table, He will become the overarching and prevailing influence in my life. He will influence my words, my actions and my choices. He will so overshadow my ways because I am hidden in Him, that others will see more of Him than me.

Father, help me to become deeper and deeper hidden in You so that my ways and my words become Yours. In Jesus' name, amen.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

A Little Salt...

Here is another peak at a journal entry on my 40-day journey through a book by David Jeremiah...

"The Gospel isn't something we go to church to hear; it's something we go from church to tell."

"A little salt makes its present felt. Am [I] making [my] presence felt? Jesus was talking to you and to me whe He said, 'You are the salt of the earth'. Isn't it time we got out of the shaker? It's time to be salty."

As salt of the earth, what am I doing that causes others to thirst for the Living Water?

Think about it...

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Like a Blow Fish

"Knowledge puffs up, love builds up." 1 Corinthians 8:1b

Read 1 Corinthians 8.

Knowledge, without humility, can puff one up like a blow fish. It can inflate the ego. It can swell a person's pride. But God's Word says it is love that builds others up. And He wants me to be "others" focused, not "me" focused.

In verses 2 and 3 of chapter 8, Paul writes, "The man who thinks he knows something does not know as he ought to know. But the man who loves is known by God." They say one can have book smarts but no street smarts. Knowledge without experience - just as knowledge without humility - can be a dangerous thing.

I thought I knew stuff about marriage, until I got married. I remember having theories about raising children, until I had children. I had supposed knowledge, but I had no personal experience. What I know now has come from lessons taught me by God through trial and error. I understand now how my "preconceived knowledge" could have come across as looking prideful and puffed up. I thought I knew something! I also know that God humbles the proud and most of life, for that reason, has not turned out the way I planned. Instead, through my experiences, God is teaching me His ways and making it better!

In his sermon notes on 1 Corinthians 8:1, Chuck Smith writes, "He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool, shun him. He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a student, teach him. He who knows and knows not that he knows is a teacher, learn from him." Pretty profound way to put it, I think!

On the other hand, "love builds up". Verse 9 of chapter 8 says, "Be careful...that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak." The best example I can think of with reference to a stumbling block is alcohol consumption. One person might be able to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner and have no trouble drinking in moderation and on occasion. But he may have a friend who battles to stay sober every day, who almost lost his marriage or his life to alcoholism. One person's freedom to drink can be another person's stumbling block. Flaunting your liberty, knowingly or unknowingly (unannounced to you, he may see you 3 tables over in the restaurant, or in the check out line at the grocery store), may cause him to feel if he can handle it, maybe I can too this time. That one drink he was tempted to try because of your liberty could cause him to fall back into a hopeless addiction. In the same way, having alcohol or other "stumbling blocks" in your home send the message to your children that drinking or whatever it is, is okay. They say whatever the parent does in moderation, the child may do in excess. So because we as parents set the standard, we have to be overly cautious about what our actions communicate as okay - and not just by our standards, but God's.

The puffed up believer "may seek to intellectually defend [their] freedom to drink and defy all correction on the matter. Yet if [he] truly loves [his] brother [he] would not puff up himself, but...would seek to build him up, for love builds up," says Chuck Smith.

In chapter 8, Paul concludes that if eating meat causes his brother to stumble, he would not eat meat the rest of his days in order to not offend the weaker brother. "Meat" can be replaced by any number of modern day stumbling blocks. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 says, "Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." Insisting that what I do is nobody's business would be prideful. A brother's eyes, a child's eyes, a neighbor's eyes, somebody's eyes are always watching. Laying it down means I am putting my brother (or sister, or child) above my own fleshly desires. Laying stumbling blocks down, whether they be alcohol, drugs, excessive living, immoral TV shows, music or movie choices, etc., and not compromising for the sake of a craving, an impulse, a whim or entertainment...now that's walking in love!

Father, I ask You to deflate any pride hidden within and help me to walk in love and humility. Show me where I may be causing others to stumble and help me correct my ways. I want my life to please You, and point others to - and not away from - You. In Jesus' name, amen.





Smith, Chuck. "1 Corinthians 8:1." The Word for Today. Blue Letter Bible. 1 May 2005.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Taking Possession

"...take possession of the land the LORD Your God is giving you for your own." Joshua 1:11b

The Promised Land is a place of spiritual rest and victory that can be enjoyed by every believer. We are brought out of the bondage of/to sin, that we might be delivered or brought into abundant life in Christ. "The wilderness is never God's permanent destination for us," says David Guzik, though many choose to stay there for fear of change or because bondage is what they know and it's comfortable.

Rest and victory are not just handed over, however. They come as the result of a battle won. Guzik goes on to say, "Because taking the land took effort, the challenge ahead was not for those content with Egypt, but for those who would press ahead for what God called them to." So you see, we can have all the spiritual rest and victory we want to take, but the amount we possess is totally up to our willingness and desire to persevere and get it!

Thank You Lord Jesus for giving me the determination to fight for, and take possession of, my Promised Land! In Your name I pray, amen.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Anchor of My Soul

"Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls." Hebrew 6:18-19 (NLT)

In this ever declining society, one that thinks truth is relevant and there are no absolutes, I need an anchor. I need a firm place to stand. I need a place of confidence and hope in which I can find rest for my weary soul. God's Word says I can take refuge in Him. My God is strong and trustworthy, an anchor for my soul.

My marriage life verse, Psalm 40:1-3 says in verse 2, "He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."  As I rest in the Lord He holds me securely. He is the solid rock on which I choose to stand. I am confident that He is who He says He is, and will do what He says He will do because He is trustworthy. He is my hope and my Strong Tower. My God anchors my soul to Himself.

Thank You Jesus for anchoring me, for holding me securely to You.You are my support, my stability, my mainstay. Thank You Lord for never letting me go. In Jesus' name, amen.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Measure of Love



I penned these questions the Lord prompted me to ask myself after praying through some things on my heart this morning...

  • Do I love others to the measure of which I believe God loves me? 
  • (long reflective pause)
  • Is that the reason I have grown to open up and love others more over the years?
  • Is that the reason I feel I still have far to go?

"And [God] has given us this command: Whoever loves God
must also love his brother." 1 John 4:21

  • Do I love others with the measure of love I am capable of in my own flesh, or with a God-given measure of love?

Lord Jesus, please help me to perceive Your great love for me on much deeper levels. Saturate me Lord. Help me Lord to take that love in, and then love those in my life that much more. I want to love like You love. In Jesus' name, amen.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Authenticity

I am starting a 40-day journey through a book about authentic Christianity - what that should look like, and where I might be falling short. As I work through it I may take the liberty some days, like today, to post a thought provoking question or two that I am pondering. Here goes for Day 1:

What characteristics in my life offer solid evidence that I am a follower of Christ? Which characteristics contradict that claim?

Think about it!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Riding on the Clouds

“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
   who rides on the heavens to help you
   and on the clouds in his majesty.
The eternal God is your refuge,
   and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemy before you,
   saying, ‘Destroy him!’
So Israel will live in safety alone;
   Jacob’s spring is secure
in a land of grain and new wine,
   where the heavens drop dew."
Deuteronomy 33:26-28 

NOTE: The "God of Jeshurun" is the God of the upright ones. This is a nickname for Israel.

My God, my Rescuer, rides in on the heavens to help me when I call on His name. He comes on the clouds in His majesty. He is my Refuge and His everlasting arms are under me. In His might and in His power and in His name, enemies are driven out before me. My God commands them to be destroyed, that I might live in a safe and secure place with Him.

I am crying out to the Father for help today, believing He will come riding on the clouds as I call upon His name. I am thankful for His faithfulness. I am grateful that He is a God of His Word and He keeps His promises. I choose today to hide myself in Him for He is my Refuge. I trust Him to hold me up with His everlasting arms.

Today I am praying this prayer... (I made it generic in case you need to pray it too!)

Father God, in Your name and by Your power I ask You to destroy the spirit of _____________ (name it) that is causing _____________ (me, or the name of the person being prayed for) to struggle. In the name of Jesus, "Destroy it!" so that _____________ (I, or other name) can live in Your safety alone and be secure in You. Bring about a heart change so that You can be represented in an upright and righteous way in _____________ (my, or other name) life. Thank You for the power to come against the enemy in Jesus' name. May today be a day of deliverance in _____________ (my, or other name) life! In Jesus' name, amen.

(Now that you have figured out the fill-in-the-blanks, whether for yourself or another person, pray it again out loud, and with conviction!)   

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

No Turning Back

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

Do no go back to Egypt! If God has delivered you from bondage, bad habits or baggage, let it go! It is for freedom that Christ died. Freedom from sin. Freedom from guilt and condemnation. Freedom from all that holds us down. Freedom means liberty. He came to set the captives free!

He knows all too well how tempting it can be to fall back into old patterns of thinking, feeling and acting. Back into unhealthy relationships. Back into those things that once oppressed us only to get bound up again. So He gives strong warning to the believer to stand firm in Him and the power of His Word. He doesn't want His children getting burdened by a "yoke" of slavery again; an oppressive force that binds one up as if in chains.

God says to stand firm in the freedom He has given. To make every effort to stay in this place of liberty. He reminds me often when there is a choice to make, "Don't go back to Egypt!" Once a believer tastes God-given freedom and the weightlessness and joy it brings, they will prayerfully take a firm stand in that liberating and spacious place and press on without so much as a glance backward.

Father God, I choose to walk in the liberty of Jesus. Thank You for delighting in me and rescuing me. Thank You for delivering me to a spacious place (Psalm 18:19). I love You Lord. In Your name I pray, amen.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Icing on the Cake



"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27

Loving the Lord is a verticle relationship and should always come first. Loving our neighbor (spouse, children, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers...) is a horizontal relationship and should come second.

When I am doing the first, loving God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind, the second should follow as overflow from a heart full-up on Jesus. When we keep our priorities in order, the way God intended them to be, all the good in our other relationships is like "icing on the cake" so to speak - with God being the main ingredient (the cake itself)!

Father, help me to fill up on You daily and live in right relationship with You so that I can be a blessing in every other relationship I have. Help me to respond and love in such a way that I become icing on other people's cakes! In Jesus' name, amen.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

We Win!

"When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you... He shall say: “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” Deuteronomy 20:1, 3-4


God's Word says "when" you go to war against your enemies, not "if". So if you are a follower of Christ, you have an enemy and you can expect to face battles. But God...

But God says this kind of battle is not for the fainthearted, afraid, terrified or panicked. Instead, it is for the Christ follower who is willing to trust Him and be strong, courageous and determined. I think courage is moving forward in spite of your fear, knowing that He is with you and will fight for you. Can you see it? God Himself, dressed for battle, standing right there with you leading the way. Whatever the enemy orchestrates - whatever we might perceive as a battle in our life - persecution, disease, relational difficulties, struggles and trials of various kinds - God promises to be there through thick and thin, fighting with and for us so that we can be victorious in Him. Praise God we have a Father who is a Warrior at heart. One who fights our battles with our best interest in mind, and wins! In the end, He wins and we win...praise the Lord! The enemy will be defeated.

Father, thank You for fighting with and for me. Thank You for overpowering the enemy and granting victory. You are my God, my Father, my Warrior...thank You Jesus! Amen.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Handmade with Love

"Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans..." Isaiah 1:17

Today our Metamorphosis College Girls Ministry gathered for a day of dress making. Partnering with Little Dresses for Africa and the Kelly Green Evangelistic Association, we sewed simple dresses out of pillow cases, embellished them with handmade flowers and appliques, and fashioned flip flops to match. The dresses will be delivered to an orphanage in Uganda by a mission team this summer with cards created by the girls containing a personal message of God's love for them. May God use this labor of love to plant a knowing in the hearts of these little girls that they are worthy!



...and here is a sampling of the finished product. Vibrant "little dresses" with matching flip flops to bless sweet little orphaned African girls! May the shoes become shoes of peace, and may they feel wrapped up in the love of Christ when they wear their "little dresses"!


Friday, March 11, 2011

Openhanded

"Give generously to [the poor] and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to." Deuteronomy 15:10

This is another "if, then" kind of verse. "If" I give generously without a grudging or complaining or resentful heart, "then" God will bless me and the work I set my hands to.

God is pleased when I am openhanded with what He has entrusted to me, and when I give with a cheerful heart (2 Corinthians 9:7). If I am this kind of giver, God says I can expect to be blessed. But if I harbor negative feelings about what He's asking me to give, or give up, I think He'd rather me just keep it, because an offering given from a heart that's not right with Him isn't pleasing at all.

Lord, help me to see the needs of Your children around me and be willing to give from a heart that desires to please You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Strength to Strength

"Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage... They go from strength to strength, till each appears before Zion." Psalm 84:5, 7

Strength is found in the Lord. As we make our pilgrimage in life, moving closer and closer to God, growing stronger and stronger with each life trial, by placing ever-increasing faith and trust in God, we grow. We grow more and more blessed until we stand before the Lord in heaven one day.

Every trial makes me stronger and more like my God if the strength I am drawing upon is His. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Thank You Jesus that I have seen this in my own life - and it's good to be reminded of it. I have gone from "strength to [greater] strength" with each trial of life. I am getting stronger with each one, thank You Lord! In Jesus' name, amen.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

He is My Praise

"He is your praise..." Deuteronomy 10:21

My God is worthy of my praise and is the One to be praised!

As I read from Deuteronomy 10 today this four word phrase caught my attention. "He is your praise". He is my praise. David Guzik's commentary on this passage expounds upon it this way, "He is your praise: This is true in two senses. First, He is the object of our praise; second, He is also the One who makes us praiseworthy. Any wisdom, beauty or skill we show is not to our praise - but [His]." In other words, He is the object of my praise, and the One who makes anything good about me praiseworthy (or worth praising).

Praise You, Jesus! Mighty and awesome are Thee. All things excellent, all things praiseworthy, all things true come from You, and to You all praise is due. In Jesus' name, amen.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Pride and Destruction

"...when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

"...If you forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them...you will surely be destroyed." Deuteronomy 8:12-14, 19

Pride leads to destruction (Proverbs 16:18). This is a strong warning from the Lord. He wants my heart's undivided attention - my affections focused on Him. Though He may bless me with nice things and bring me increase, or multiply His provisions for me and my family, He gives a warning to heed: do not let these "things" steal your gaze. Keep your attention focused on "Me".

The Lord my God brought me out of bondage, He restored my broken life, and I must remember that all blessing comes from His hand. "...it is He who gives the ability to produce wealth" (Deuteronomy 8:18). If my heart swells with pride thinking any of the blessing was because of my own doing, or thinking after all I have been through I deserve what He has given, or if I let other things become my priority over Him, God's Word says I will risk destruction. I must strive instead to live the rest of my life as a heartfelt "thank You" to my God. I want my life, my responses, my thoughts and attitudes and so on, to all He does for and through me, to be pleasing to Him.

Father, thank You for humbling me and testing me and causing me to hunger and thirst for You O God. Thank You for teaching me to call on Your name, and for hearing my cries and answering. Thank You for lavishing Your love and provision on us as You restored my life. Keep me ever mindful of the things You have done for me, so that I can be ever grateful. In Jesus' name, amen.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Why So Downcast?

"Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 48:5

David's soul and his spirits were down. He was groaning within after crying out to the Lord for justice. He asks himself - or his soul, rather - why it is so downcast and disturbed. Then, he shifts to a pep talk. He tells his soul to put its hope in the Lord and once again praise Him. Praise His Savior! Praise His God! The One in whom all hope is found!

My soul too is weary and downcast some days, yet it is my choice as to whether I am going to wallow in it. I can choose instead to set my emotions and feelings aside and start speaking hope and truth into my soul. The wise choice - the one that will lift my spirits in the midst of difficulty - is to praise Him anyway. Regardless of my circumstances, my God is worthy of all my praise!

Father God, I choose to walk in a spirit of praise today, lifting up Your name and recalling Your goodness. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

My God, My Reward

Installment #25 of my self-assigned project to study the "re" words in God's Word. (For further explanation of this undertaking, refer to the entry titled "Reach, Read and Reap" from February 3, 2011.)

____________________________________________________________________________

Reward


(noun) something given or received in return for something else

"But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him." Hebrews 11:6

This verse is found in the "Hall of Faith" so to speak; the chapter in Hebrews where men are remembered because of their faith. I am reminded that it's more than just difficult to please God without faith. God's Word says it's virtually impossible! But those who believe, and earnestly seek Him out, are rewarded by God. He reveals Himself to the one whose heart diligently seeks after Him.

Father God, You are the greatest reward. There is no reward greater than communion with You. I pray Lord that as I seek You with my whole heart, earnestly, perseveringly, and diligently, that I will find in You my reward - a greater understanding of who You are, what You have done for me, and what Your plans are for me. In Jesus' name, amen.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Speak Up

I have been pondering some personal things over the past couple of days, thus the reason for not blogging. I do want to share this thought from Warren Wiersbe that's been on my mind though after reading about Abraham's plea for the Lord to spare the righteous people of Sodom in Genesis 18, had He been able to find at least ten... "Never underestimate the importance of even a small number of believers. As few as 10 people would have saved a whole city from destruction! If Lot had not won only his own family to faith in the Lord, judgement in Sodom would have been averted! Your personal witness today is important to God, no matter how insignificant you may feel."

James 3:23 says, "...'Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.'"

Sometimes it does feel as though one small voice couldn't possibly make a difference, but God says it isn't so. When God prompts us to speak up, we need only believe Him, obediently open our mouths and leave the results to Him.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Where There Is No Revelation...

Installment #24 of my self-assigned project to study the "re" words in God's Word. (For further explanation of this undertaking, refer to the entry titled "Reach, Read and Reap" from February 3, 2011.)

____________________________________________________________________________

Revelation


(noun) the act of revealing or disclosing something not previously known or realized; God's disclosure of Himself and His will to His people

"Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law." Proverbs 29:18

If I am idle and not in God's Word He cannot unveil the mystery of it to me, and therefore direct my steps. And if He is not guiding me by the wisdom found in His Word, I can easily lose my way, throw restraint and self-control to the wind, and fall to temptation. Hosea 4:6 says that His children "are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Destruction is avoided by walking in obedience, which God's Word says leads to blessing. If not for continual revelations from God through His Word, about Himself and His will for my life, I would become easy pray for the enemy of my soul. It is through the revealed Word of God that I find my way.

Father, I am so blessed when You lift the veil covering Your Word and reveal Yourself to me. I ask that each day You grant a new revelation about who You are and what You want from my life. Guide my steps according to Your infalible Word I pray, In Jesus' name, amen. 

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Jesus, the Resurrected One

Installment #23 of my self-assigned project to study the "re" words in God's Word. (For further explanation of this undertaking, refer to the entry titled "Reach, Read and Reap" from February 3, 2011.)

____________________________________________________________________________

Resurrection


(noun) the act of rising from the dead

"Jesus said to her [Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25

Read the first part of this passage again emphasizing a different word (the bolded one) each time you read it. As you do, allow yourself to experience the significance of each word with the change of focus on each line.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

Do you believe this? That is the question Jesus was asking Martha. All of humanity falls into two categories: those who believe, and those who don't.

Jesus Himself is speaking here, saying He is the One that went from death on a cross to risen life. And only the ones who believe in Him will inherit eternal life and live forever with Him. Though our fleshly bodies will fade and die, our soul will be ever-present with the Living God. Those who do not believe will forever be dying in hell - not dead - but forever in the process of dying a horrific death. His Word tells us so...

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:11-15

Is your name written in the Book of Life? Which do you choose? Eternal life or eternal death?

Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
 
"Jesus is the resurrection and the life," and He is asking, "Do you believe this?"

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Making All Things New... Restoration

Installment #22 of my self-assigned project to study the "re" words in God's Word. (For further explanation of this undertaking, refer to the entry titled "Reach, Read and Reap" from February 3, 2011.)

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Restore


(verb) to give back; the giving or bringing of a person back; to mend; to build up again; repair or renew

God's Word is all about making things new...
  • In Genesis 40:13 - 41:13, some of God's people were restored to their position.
  • In Exodus 4:7, Moses' hand that was made leprous for a moment was restored to healthy flesh.
  • In Numbers 21:27, the cities of Heshbon and Sihon are hoped to be rebuilt and restored.
  • In Deuteronomy 30:3, the Lord promises to restore fortunes.
  • In 1 Samuel 7:14, towns that were captured from Israel were restored to her.
  • In 2 Samuel 9:7, King David restored to Jonathan all that had belonged to his grandfather, Saul.
  • In 1 Kings 13:6, a king's hand is restored.
  • In 2 Kings 5:10, the flesh of a leprous man was restored and cleansed.
  • In 2 Kings 8:5, Elisha restored the dead to life.
  • In 2 Kings 14:25, particular boundaries in Israel are restored.
  • In 1 Chronicles 11:8, the city of Jerusalem is restored.
  • In 2 Chronicles 24:4, Joash restores the temple of the LORD.
  • In Nehemiah 3:8, Jerusalem is restored again as far as the Broad Wall.
  • In Psalm 14:7, the people are reminded to rejoice and be glad when the Lord restores their fortunes.
  • In Psalm 23:3, the Lord restores the soul.
  • In Psalm 41:3, the Lord sustains the sick and restores them from their bed of illness.
  • In Psalm 51:12, David pleas for the Lord to restore the joy of his salvation.
  • In Psalm 80:3 and 7, David seeks the Lord's favor asking Him to restore His people and make His face shine upon them.
  • In Isaiah 38:16, health was restored.
  • In Isaiah 49:8, God promises to restore the land.
  • In Jeremiah 15:19, the Lord promises to restore in order that He might be served, upon repentance.
  • In Lamentations 5:21, the people cry out to God to be restored to Him.
  • In Daniel 4:34, Nebuchadnezzar's sanity was restored.
  • In Matthew 9:30, Mark 8:25 and Acts 9:12, sight was restored.
  • In Acts 3:21, we are promised a time when the Lord will come and restore everything.
  • In Galatians 6:1, believers are encouraged to restore their brothers fallen to sin gently.
  • In 1 Peter 5:10, God promises that after a time of suffering, He Himself will restore His child making him strong, firm and steadfast.

The Lord has come to make all things new. Restoration is a process by which He makes all things new. How has the Lord brought about restoration in your life? Has He restored your personal brokenness? A broken marriage? Resolved a health issue? Restored finances? Your church? Your job position? Your physical or spiritual sight? Your sanity?

Whatever the area of restoration, our response should be the same... praise Him! Take a moment today to praise Him for things once lost that have been restored in your life. Close by praying and asking Him to restore those things that are still broken...