"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." Psalm 32:8
At the Recovery Center this morning one of the counselors played a song entitled, "Jesus, Take the Wheel". If you aren't familiar with the song it's about a woman who was living away from the Lord and had been going through a very difficult time. The song takes place as she was driving down the road with her baby in the car and suddenly lost control. As the car started spinning out of control she threw up her hands, letting go of the steering wheel, and cried out for Jesus to "take the wheel". Here's the chorus: "Jesus take the wheel. Take it from my hands. Cause I can't do this on my own. I'm letting go. So give me one more chance. Save me from this road I'm on. Jesus take the wheel."
Let me ask you this morning, "Who's in the driver's seat of your life?" Are you driving your own life? Going down the roads you desire to go down? Are you holding on to the steering wheel with a "death grip" not willing to let go and let God have full control of your life? If you keep steering your life in the direction you want to go, you will wind up on a dead end road, a path that leads no where, or worse yet go into a tail spin and crash.
There is only one way for you to "drive" through this world without "crashing", it's by surrounding the "wheel" of your life over to Jesus- giving Him the driver's seat. But that can only happen as you first surrender your "will". Once you surrender your "will" to His Lordship, then it will be no problem to surrender the "wheel" of your life over to Him and let Him navigate you through this life.
Have a great day. You need to surrender your "will" to God so that He can take the "wheel" and drive you safely through the rest of your life.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
"Not Forgotten"
"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee."
Isaiah 49:15
The Lord wants me to remind you again this morning that He has not forgotten you. He knows exactly where you are and what you are going through. Darkness cannot hide you from His sight. Trials don't "scare" Him away. The storm is not so violent that He can't reach you. The mountain is not too tall for Him to climb. The pit is not too deep that He can't see the bottom.
I am reminded of Hagar this morning. The Lord saw her in her plight. He saw her in the middle of the desert with no water, no place to go, cast out of her home. I am also reminded of Joseph- thrown in a pit to die, sold by his brothers into slavery, cast into prison, but the Lord saw him too. What about Daniel in the lion's den, the three Hebrews in the furnace, and the list goes on. What they were facing did not hide them from God's view and did cause God to forget them. He was well aware of where they were and what they were going through. He is aware of you too- He knows where you are, what you are going through, He hears your cries, He sees your plight, and He cares.
Don't think that He does not care because He hasn't brought your trying situation to an "end". He gave Hagar water to make it through the desert. He gave Joseph favor to make it through his captivity. He gave Daniel grace in the lion's den. He gave the three Hebrews His presence. And He is, and will, give you whatever you need to make it through what you are going through.
Have a great day. God has not forgotten you... and will not.
Isaiah 49:15
The Lord wants me to remind you again this morning that He has not forgotten you. He knows exactly where you are and what you are going through. Darkness cannot hide you from His sight. Trials don't "scare" Him away. The storm is not so violent that He can't reach you. The mountain is not too tall for Him to climb. The pit is not too deep that He can't see the bottom.
I am reminded of Hagar this morning. The Lord saw her in her plight. He saw her in the middle of the desert with no water, no place to go, cast out of her home. I am also reminded of Joseph- thrown in a pit to die, sold by his brothers into slavery, cast into prison, but the Lord saw him too. What about Daniel in the lion's den, the three Hebrews in the furnace, and the list goes on. What they were facing did not hide them from God's view and did cause God to forget them. He was well aware of where they were and what they were going through. He is aware of you too- He knows where you are, what you are going through, He hears your cries, He sees your plight, and He cares.
Don't think that He does not care because He hasn't brought your trying situation to an "end". He gave Hagar water to make it through the desert. He gave Joseph favor to make it through his captivity. He gave Daniel grace in the lion's den. He gave the three Hebrews His presence. And He is, and will, give you whatever you need to make it through what you are going through.
Have a great day. God has not forgotten you... and will not.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
"Reward"
"Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Matthew 5:12
In context this scripture is talking about being persecuted for Christ's sake and what our response should be to that persecution and why we should respond not with "evil" but with rejoicing. But I want to "step outside of the context" this morning, without adding to or taking away from the scripture. We need to remind ourselves daily that regardless of what happens here in this life, this is not all there is. This life is temporary and there is a reward that awaits those who have put their faith and trust in Christ on the other side of it. Therefore, we have every reason to rejoice.
When I face disappointing situations, I need to remember, I have a great reward in heaven awaiting me. That knowledge will turn those disappointments into rejoicing. When I am down cast, I do the same, think about what awaits me and my heart if filled with joy. When life seems unbearable, I need to refocus and look past this temporary to the eternal- my hope is then renewed. When it seems as though this trial will never come to an end, look toward the "end"- the end of this life and the beginning of the new in heaven.
This life with all it's problems, heartaches and trials will not last forever, there is something more wonderful than we can imagine that awaits us. There are rewards, treasures and riches laid up for us in heaven- the greatest reward is ultimately to see our wonderful Savior Jesus and spend eternity with Him in His house. When you think about that, and place that thought above what is happening to you here at the present, even the difficulties pale in comparison and you can't help but rejoice.
Have a great day. Remember today that you have a great reward in heaven... this life is not all there is... so rejoice!
In context this scripture is talking about being persecuted for Christ's sake and what our response should be to that persecution and why we should respond not with "evil" but with rejoicing. But I want to "step outside of the context" this morning, without adding to or taking away from the scripture. We need to remind ourselves daily that regardless of what happens here in this life, this is not all there is. This life is temporary and there is a reward that awaits those who have put their faith and trust in Christ on the other side of it. Therefore, we have every reason to rejoice.
When I face disappointing situations, I need to remember, I have a great reward in heaven awaiting me. That knowledge will turn those disappointments into rejoicing. When I am down cast, I do the same, think about what awaits me and my heart if filled with joy. When life seems unbearable, I need to refocus and look past this temporary to the eternal- my hope is then renewed. When it seems as though this trial will never come to an end, look toward the "end"- the end of this life and the beginning of the new in heaven.
This life with all it's problems, heartaches and trials will not last forever, there is something more wonderful than we can imagine that awaits us. There are rewards, treasures and riches laid up for us in heaven- the greatest reward is ultimately to see our wonderful Savior Jesus and spend eternity with Him in His house. When you think about that, and place that thought above what is happening to you here at the present, even the difficulties pale in comparison and you can't help but rejoice.
Have a great day. Remember today that you have a great reward in heaven... this life is not all there is... so rejoice!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
"Facing It"
"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philipines 4:11
Have you ever thought about all the things that we can face in a day? We never know what a day may hold- good or bad. Here are some of the things we might face: giants, mountains, fiery trials, temptations, illness, broken dreams, obstacles either large or small, grief, pain, suffering, persecution, failure, discouragement, disappointment, fear, doubt, unbelief, disillusion, weakness, hunger, thirst, strife, affliction, conflict, broken relationships, overwhelming odds, remorse and the list goes on. Oh, how depressing, I have to stop because it sounds like every thing we face is "gloom, despair, and agony". Thank God that life isn't completely full of misery, all though it may seem like it at times. We also face times of great joy, happiness, victory, peace, rejoicing, strength, hope, encouragement.
The Apostle Paul probably faced more than the average person but listen to how he speaks about what he faced. (I'd like to read it from the Amplified Bible.) "Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. (Phil.4:11-13)
Like us, he faced good and bad times, but he had learned something that got him through them all. It was the confidence in knowing that regardless of what he faced- good or bad, happy or sad, victory or defeat, feast or famine, weakness or strength- he wasn't facing it alone. "Lo, I am with you always." (Matthew 28:20) We have that same hope- that same promise. We never face anything alone-- "For Thou art with me." The Lord is with us, never leaving us, nor forsaking us.
Have a great day. I hope what you face today is all good, but whether it is or isn't you aren't facing it alone.
Have you ever thought about all the things that we can face in a day? We never know what a day may hold- good or bad. Here are some of the things we might face: giants, mountains, fiery trials, temptations, illness, broken dreams, obstacles either large or small, grief, pain, suffering, persecution, failure, discouragement, disappointment, fear, doubt, unbelief, disillusion, weakness, hunger, thirst, strife, affliction, conflict, broken relationships, overwhelming odds, remorse and the list goes on. Oh, how depressing, I have to stop because it sounds like every thing we face is "gloom, despair, and agony". Thank God that life isn't completely full of misery, all though it may seem like it at times. We also face times of great joy, happiness, victory, peace, rejoicing, strength, hope, encouragement.
The Apostle Paul probably faced more than the average person but listen to how he speaks about what he faced. (I'd like to read it from the Amplified Bible.) "Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. (Phil.4:11-13)
Like us, he faced good and bad times, but he had learned something that got him through them all. It was the confidence in knowing that regardless of what he faced- good or bad, happy or sad, victory or defeat, feast or famine, weakness or strength- he wasn't facing it alone. "Lo, I am with you always." (Matthew 28:20) We have that same hope- that same promise. We never face anything alone-- "For Thou art with me." The Lord is with us, never leaving us, nor forsaking us.
Have a great day. I hope what you face today is all good, but whether it is or isn't you aren't facing it alone.
Monday, November 10, 2008
"The Sun Is Shining - Part 2"
"My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?" Psalm 42:3
In one of the devotions last week we talked about God still being in control and the evidence was that the sun still rose that morning and it's still shining. One of my precious email friends wrote me back and told me that the comparison wasn't working on her end because bad storms were coming where she lives. I thought about that this morning and the Lord wants me to encourage you further in this area.
True enough storm clouds do seem to block out the sun. We have gone for days during the winter where the sky was gray and gloomy- not even one small beam of light penetrated through. But, you know, just because all I could see was clouds, gray and overcast skies... the sun was still there. Just because I could not see it did not mean that it wasn't there.
The first covenant that God established was with the sun. (Genesis 8:22) Since God is not only a covenant maker, but a covenant keeper, the sun will rise everyday until He returns and we live with Him in that city where the Lamb is the light and there will be no need for sun or moon. But until that day comes, the sun will always be there- even if you don't see it, even if storm clouds hide it, even if night covers it, even if the conditions in the atmosphere hinders it's rays from breaking forth... it's still there. And that is still proof that God is still in control.
God made a covenant with the sun, but He also made a covenant with you his child. If God is faithful to keep His covenant with the elements, He will be faithful to keep His covenant with you... and much more so because you are more precious to Him. It may be "dark" where you are today. Storm clouds may be covering God's promises, you may not be able to see the light of His presence because of the darkness of your situation, but He is still there, He is still in control and He is still faithful.
Have a great day. The sun is always there even if you can't see it for the storm clouds... so is God.
In one of the devotions last week we talked about God still being in control and the evidence was that the sun still rose that morning and it's still shining. One of my precious email friends wrote me back and told me that the comparison wasn't working on her end because bad storms were coming where she lives. I thought about that this morning and the Lord wants me to encourage you further in this area.
True enough storm clouds do seem to block out the sun. We have gone for days during the winter where the sky was gray and gloomy- not even one small beam of light penetrated through. But, you know, just because all I could see was clouds, gray and overcast skies... the sun was still there. Just because I could not see it did not mean that it wasn't there.
The first covenant that God established was with the sun. (Genesis 8:22) Since God is not only a covenant maker, but a covenant keeper, the sun will rise everyday until He returns and we live with Him in that city where the Lamb is the light and there will be no need for sun or moon. But until that day comes, the sun will always be there- even if you don't see it, even if storm clouds hide it, even if night covers it, even if the conditions in the atmosphere hinders it's rays from breaking forth... it's still there. And that is still proof that God is still in control.
God made a covenant with the sun, but He also made a covenant with you his child. If God is faithful to keep His covenant with the elements, He will be faithful to keep His covenant with you... and much more so because you are more precious to Him. It may be "dark" where you are today. Storm clouds may be covering God's promises, you may not be able to see the light of His presence because of the darkness of your situation, but He is still there, He is still in control and He is still faithful.
Have a great day. The sun is always there even if you can't see it for the storm clouds... so is God.
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