"...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5b
Today is the first day of spring and it is a beautiful sunny morning. I was thinking about the weather earlier. I have noticed that the weather changes from location to location. Over the past several weeks some of my email friends would make comments about how the weather was where they lived. It's pretty amazing. On the days it would be warm and sunny here, it would be rainy in one area of the country and snowing in another. I think this is a good illustration of how life is. We don't all experience "sunny" times at the same time. Some of us may be having "sunshine" (things are going well, no major problems, we are at peace), while at the same time some others may be experiencing a "winter" time (problems, grief, trials, sorrow, etc.)
But you know, sitting above the earth is the sun. It's always there. It's there whether we see it shining or not. The clouds may be blocking it, the snow may be hiding it, but it's still there. I want to encourage you this morning that whether your life is full of "sunshine" or "rain" or "snow" this morning. There is a wonderful God who is watching over you whether you see or feel His presence or not. He isn't there only when we see Him "shining"- when He is answering all our prayers in the affirmative, when we have all our needs met. He is there even when the "clouds" block Him from view. He's there when problems come, when pain afflicts, when sorrow weighs you down. His presence is still there.
Today you may feel as if He is not there. He is. Just because He is blocked from your view doesn't mean that He isn't there. I know, even through the weeks of cloudy and rainy days, that the sun (literal sun) will shine again. I also know that just because the circumstances of life seem to block the Lord from my view that I will "see" Him again. There will come a day when His presence will shine brightly in view. But until I see His shining presence, I will hold on to the fact/faith that He is still there watching over me.
Have a great day. He may be blocked at the moment from view because of the circumstances you are going through, but rest assured that He is still there!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
"Good Things- Part 2"
"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." 2 Peter 1:3
Yesterday we said that the "good" things that God blesses us with are not always material, or tangible. They are also such things as peace, joy, grace, strength and so forth. This morning I want to continue on that subject.
Some people only acknowledge God's goodness after He has blessed them with some material thing- to them that's how they define His goodness. God isn't good just because he gives me material blessings. He is good because He gives me all things that pertain to life and godliness... whatever those things are. He always meets and supplies my EVERY need.... spiritual as well as physical.
How awful it would be to go through life without the non-tangible blessings. I can make it without much of what I consider a "need". I don't have to have ten pairs of pants, a different dress for everyday of the month, three meals a day, but I do have to have peace, love, joy, strength and grace. I can go through this life homeless without a roof over my head, many people do and they make it, but I cannot go through this life without having those non material things, such as what we have mentioned already- love, etc.
How do you define God's goodness this morning? How do you define His blessings? Is He good only because He answers your prayer for material things? Or is He good because He gives us ALL things that we need-- physical and spiritual?
Have a great day. Define God's goodness.
Yesterday we said that the "good" things that God blesses us with are not always material, or tangible. They are also such things as peace, joy, grace, strength and so forth. This morning I want to continue on that subject.
Some people only acknowledge God's goodness after He has blessed them with some material thing- to them that's how they define His goodness. God isn't good just because he gives me material blessings. He is good because He gives me all things that pertain to life and godliness... whatever those things are. He always meets and supplies my EVERY need.... spiritual as well as physical.
How awful it would be to go through life without the non-tangible blessings. I can make it without much of what I consider a "need". I don't have to have ten pairs of pants, a different dress for everyday of the month, three meals a day, but I do have to have peace, love, joy, strength and grace. I can go through this life homeless without a roof over my head, many people do and they make it, but I cannot go through this life without having those non material things, such as what we have mentioned already- love, etc.
How do you define God's goodness this morning? How do you define His blessings? Is He good only because He answers your prayer for material things? Or is He good because He gives us ALL things that we need-- physical and spiritual?
Have a great day. Define God's goodness.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
"Good Things"
"For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11
When we think of "good" things, we often think of money, finances, material things. And they are "good" things when they meet the need that we have. But there are so many more "good" things that God gives us that are so much better than just the material blessings. They are often things we take for granted like mercy. Mercy is a good thing- without it none of us would have a chance for freedom from sin. Grace is a good thing- it empowers us to live what God's law requires. Peace is a good thing- how wonderful to have peace instead of chaos and confusion. Joy is a good thing- it's so much better than gloom, despair and depression. Other good things that we often take for granted are health, guidance in times of decision, strength in times of weakness, insight and understanding, discernment to see the truth of a matter, power to resist the temptations that come our way.
I am truly thankful for the material blessings that God sends my way, but I never want to put more emphasis on those and forget the other good things that aren't "tangible". Perhaps we need to look a little closer at how we define "good"? Many people are "rich" in material possessions, but "poor" in the things that are truly "priceless". Many people have large sums of wealth but have no peace. Many people have great possessions but have no joy. When I need money to pay my light bill, that money is a "good" thing. But when I need strength for the battles I face, that strength is a "good" thing too. And God gives to me the "good" thing that I need to meet whatever the need is as I walk uprightly before Him.
Have a great day. How do you define "good"? A good thing is anything that meets the need I have-- whether it's material or spiritual.
When we think of "good" things, we often think of money, finances, material things. And they are "good" things when they meet the need that we have. But there are so many more "good" things that God gives us that are so much better than just the material blessings. They are often things we take for granted like mercy. Mercy is a good thing- without it none of us would have a chance for freedom from sin. Grace is a good thing- it empowers us to live what God's law requires. Peace is a good thing- how wonderful to have peace instead of chaos and confusion. Joy is a good thing- it's so much better than gloom, despair and depression. Other good things that we often take for granted are health, guidance in times of decision, strength in times of weakness, insight and understanding, discernment to see the truth of a matter, power to resist the temptations that come our way.
I am truly thankful for the material blessings that God sends my way, but I never want to put more emphasis on those and forget the other good things that aren't "tangible". Perhaps we need to look a little closer at how we define "good"? Many people are "rich" in material possessions, but "poor" in the things that are truly "priceless". Many people have large sums of wealth but have no peace. Many people have great possessions but have no joy. When I need money to pay my light bill, that money is a "good" thing. But when I need strength for the battles I face, that strength is a "good" thing too. And God gives to me the "good" thing that I need to meet whatever the need is as I walk uprightly before Him.
Have a great day. How do you define "good"? A good thing is anything that meets the need I have-- whether it's material or spiritual.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
"Lay It All Down"
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7
This morning I awoke with one line of a chorus repeating over and over in my thoughts-- "Lay it all down, lay it all down, lay it all down, at Your feet." I know this is a word for us today. What burden are you carrying? What load are you trying to bear? What are you worrying about? What are you fretting yourself over? What do you repeatedly give to God then take the concern of it back on your shoulders?
Whatever it is, it's time for you to "lay it down". You have carried it long enough. Has your carrying it solved it yet? Has your carrying it made it any lighter? Has your carrying it brought the answer? Has your carrying it changed it at all? I know, sometimes it's easier said than done. Sometimes we feel such an "attachment" to that thing because we have carried it for so long that we don't know how we'll function without it-- it has become a "crutch" of sorts. Sometimes we don't lay it down because we are afraid to. Sometimes we say we want to lay it down but we don't really want to. Sometimes we hold on to it because it gives us control in someone else's life. Sometimes it's because we don't have the faith we need to have to let it go. Sometimes it's because we don't think that it is something that the Lord's wants us to give to Him. Then sometimes we just don't know how to lay it down. Whatever the reason is, again, it's time to lay it down. It's time to get release and freedom from that thing. It is a hindrance to you. It weighs you down. It stops you from going forward. It keeps you in the same spot or always looking back. At times it even comes between you and the Lord.
Lay it down. If you don't know how, if you are too weak to do it, if you have tried without success, I want to tell you this morning that the Lord says His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in your weakness. If you will make the step toward laying it down (giving it to Him), totally surrendering that thing... He will meet you with whatever you need to enable you to lay it down, and He'll take that thing and He'll make an exchange... His yoke that is easy and His burden that is light for your heavy one.
Have a great day. "I lay it all down, at Your feet".
This morning I awoke with one line of a chorus repeating over and over in my thoughts-- "Lay it all down, lay it all down, lay it all down, at Your feet." I know this is a word for us today. What burden are you carrying? What load are you trying to bear? What are you worrying about? What are you fretting yourself over? What do you repeatedly give to God then take the concern of it back on your shoulders?
Whatever it is, it's time for you to "lay it down". You have carried it long enough. Has your carrying it solved it yet? Has your carrying it made it any lighter? Has your carrying it brought the answer? Has your carrying it changed it at all? I know, sometimes it's easier said than done. Sometimes we feel such an "attachment" to that thing because we have carried it for so long that we don't know how we'll function without it-- it has become a "crutch" of sorts. Sometimes we don't lay it down because we are afraid to. Sometimes we say we want to lay it down but we don't really want to. Sometimes we hold on to it because it gives us control in someone else's life. Sometimes it's because we don't have the faith we need to have to let it go. Sometimes it's because we don't think that it is something that the Lord's wants us to give to Him. Then sometimes we just don't know how to lay it down. Whatever the reason is, again, it's time to lay it down. It's time to get release and freedom from that thing. It is a hindrance to you. It weighs you down. It stops you from going forward. It keeps you in the same spot or always looking back. At times it even comes between you and the Lord.
Lay it down. If you don't know how, if you are too weak to do it, if you have tried without success, I want to tell you this morning that the Lord says His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in your weakness. If you will make the step toward laying it down (giving it to Him), totally surrendering that thing... He will meet you with whatever you need to enable you to lay it down, and He'll take that thing and He'll make an exchange... His yoke that is easy and His burden that is light for your heavy one.
Have a great day. "I lay it all down, at Your feet".
Monday, March 16, 2009
"The Right Payment"
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers." 1 Peter 1:18
The Lord did not redeem our lives from sin with silver, gold, money or any other physical thing, but with the blood of His dear Son Jesus. But many people are still trying to redeem themselves with "corruptible" things. They are trying to pay the price for their redemption/salvation with good works, good deeds, religious service, church attendance, giving offerings, etc. When will we realize that this will not work?!
When I go to the store to purchase my groceries, I can't carry in an arm load of books to pay for them with. They won't accept the books as payment- I have to pay for them with money. When I purchased my automobile, I didn't pay for it with a wagon load of sugar. I didn't pay for my house by giving the bank my first born child. There was only one form of payment that was required and acceptable--- money. There is only one acceptable payment required by God to purchase our redemption-- the blood of Jesus.
Are you one of those who is still trying to purchase it on your own with your own form of payment? You are wasting your time, the grocery store won't take my books for payment of my groceries, neither will God take your good works as payment for your sins! But He will accept the payment of faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is the only payment He will accept.
Have a great day. Are you still trying to purchase your salvation with "corruptible" things?
The Lord did not redeem our lives from sin with silver, gold, money or any other physical thing, but with the blood of His dear Son Jesus. But many people are still trying to redeem themselves with "corruptible" things. They are trying to pay the price for their redemption/salvation with good works, good deeds, religious service, church attendance, giving offerings, etc. When will we realize that this will not work?!
When I go to the store to purchase my groceries, I can't carry in an arm load of books to pay for them with. They won't accept the books as payment- I have to pay for them with money. When I purchased my automobile, I didn't pay for it with a wagon load of sugar. I didn't pay for my house by giving the bank my first born child. There was only one form of payment that was required and acceptable--- money. There is only one acceptable payment required by God to purchase our redemption-- the blood of Jesus.
Are you one of those who is still trying to purchase it on your own with your own form of payment? You are wasting your time, the grocery store won't take my books for payment of my groceries, neither will God take your good works as payment for your sins! But He will accept the payment of faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is the only payment He will accept.
Have a great day. Are you still trying to purchase your salvation with "corruptible" things?
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