Remember being a kid a few days before your birthday, or a week before Christmas. You just couldn’t wait until your birthday. It seemed like Christmas would never arrive. There’s even an expression, “as slow as Christmas.” Waiting is what we do, when we’ve done all we can, and it’s no longer under our control, and so we wait. It may be the hardest thing we do.
Yet scripture tells us to wait. “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He will strengthen your heart; Wait I say on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 and “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:25-26. (See also Psa 37:7-9, 40:1-3, 62:5-6, Isa 40:31, Micah 7:7) God honors our diligently seeking and waiting on him. And we must remember that He first waited on us, when He waited for us to respond to His calling for salvation. “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 2:8-9.
What are you waiting on God for today? A new job? Relief from an illness? A prodigal child? Remember He is faithful, so after you have done all you know how, pray and WAIT!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Picture of Success?
Nice suit, trophy wife, new Lexus… and His Own Airplane, Wow!!! This has got to be the picture of success, right? Wrong.
Last week this Fishers, Indiana man was found with his wrists slashed in a local jail in Tallahassee, Florida after faking a plane crash and his death, after defrauding several investors and insurance clients. This poor guy was suckered in by the big three: Lust of the Eye, Lust of the Flesh, and the Pride of Life. It was exhilarating for a season, but after following the world, and its behind the scenes leader, the devil. He went down the path of all who travel that road to destruction.
Some verses that come to mind are:
I Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith* and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Luke 6:19-21“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,* where moth and rust destroy,* and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,* where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around* like a roaring lion* looking for someone to devour.
And for the Christian
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom* and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
We've all still got that influence of the flesh, and an eye for the things the world values. Pray for this poor soul, and remember what the end is, if we don't play by God's rules.
Monday, January 19, 2009
National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2009
Yesterday was National Sanctity of Human Life Day, January 18th, 2009, as declared by President George W. Bush. Here is the link to his proclamation restating his view on life and the unborn. It is encouraging. Thankfully, my pastor oriented his sermon to this concern and reinforced the proclamation with several scriptures and some startling facts from the Crisis Pregnancy Center organization.
Abortions were legalized in the United States by the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade in 1973, the year I graduated from high school. Since then, America has killed 40,000,000 unborn children. Less than 5% of which had rape, incest, fetal abnormality, or health concerns of the mother as a factor. The rest were a matter of convenience. The pastor pointed out that 40 million people is more than the population of 22 of our states and 35 times the victims of all the US citizens killed in all the wars since 1776. (Only 1,164,000 have been killed in wars.)
Did you hear anything about this proclamation in the news? Did your church or pastor recognize anything about the proclamation? It has been an issue virtually swept under the rug by concerns for our economy, or euphoria over a new administration. Our pastor said that when either a family or a nation ignores or kicks God out, they are in danger Relationally, Militarily, and Economically. If you look at our divorce rate, youth incarcerations, 9/11/01, and current economic situation, you'd think America has earned our present state. I agree with my pastor who says we should now reflect on 2 Chronicles 7:14:
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Let's pray for our country, and its leaders, particularly our court systems. We need to let God, His principles and laws back in... before it's too late.
Abortions were legalized in the United States by the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade in 1973, the year I graduated from high school. Since then, America has killed 40,000,000 unborn children. Less than 5% of which had rape, incest, fetal abnormality, or health concerns of the mother as a factor. The rest were a matter of convenience. The pastor pointed out that 40 million people is more than the population of 22 of our states and 35 times the victims of all the US citizens killed in all the wars since 1776. (Only 1,164,000 have been killed in wars.)
Did you hear anything about this proclamation in the news? Did your church or pastor recognize anything about the proclamation? It has been an issue virtually swept under the rug by concerns for our economy, or euphoria over a new administration. Our pastor said that when either a family or a nation ignores or kicks God out, they are in danger Relationally, Militarily, and Economically. If you look at our divorce rate, youth incarcerations, 9/11/01, and current economic situation, you'd think America has earned our present state. I agree with my pastor who says we should now reflect on 2 Chronicles 7:14:
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Let's pray for our country, and its leaders, particularly our court systems. We need to let God, His principles and laws back in... before it's too late.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
YOUR IDENTITY - Who am I?
I was stunned by two news items I discovered over the past week. Adolf Merkle, a 74 year old, german multi-billionaire jumped in front of a train, taking his own life after losing half of his $9.2 billion fortune in a greedy scheme shorting Volkswagon stock. Meanwhile, I learned of the death of a 19 year old honor student and college baseball star found dead in his dorm room, an apparent accidental death from an overdose of cocaine. Both individuals with such potential, and seemingly advantages and gifts the average Joe would love to have.
But, alas their identity was in their fortune, in their physical prowess, or grade point average. When circumstances put their checkbook, their fame, their self-imaqe at risk, they couldn’t cope and sought delirium and then death as their escape.
In the world, people foolishly find or seek their identity and happiness in money, position, physical or mental ability, fame, power. But as scripture says, it is a shaky foundation.
To followers of Jesus, In Christ we have a superior identity! One founded on the unshakeable rock of ages. In Christ, we are:
A new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17
A child of God 1 John 3:1,2
A saint Ephesians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Philippians 1:1
A citizen of heaven Philippians 3:20
Possessor of eternal life John 5:24
Justified & made righteous Romans 5:1
Temple of the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 3:16
The salt of the earth Matthew 5:13
A light in the world Matthew 5:14
An overcomer 1 John 2:14, 5:4
A priest of God 1 Peter 2:9
An ambassador for Christ Ephesians 6:20
Have you given your life to Christ? Is His Spirit living in you? Then, remember who you are!
http://www.ficm.org/whoiam.htm
http://www.ficm.org/whoiam.htm
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=5e06aa5d562d95ed29bd
But, alas their identity was in their fortune, in their physical prowess, or grade point average. When circumstances put their checkbook, their fame, their self-imaqe at risk, they couldn’t cope and sought delirium and then death as their escape.
In the world, people foolishly find or seek their identity and happiness in money, position, physical or mental ability, fame, power. But as scripture says, it is a shaky foundation.
To followers of Jesus, In Christ we have a superior identity! One founded on the unshakeable rock of ages. In Christ, we are:
A new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17
A child of God 1 John 3:1,2
A saint Ephesians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Philippians 1:1
A citizen of heaven Philippians 3:20
Possessor of eternal life John 5:24
Justified & made righteous Romans 5:1
Temple of the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 3:16
The salt of the earth Matthew 5:13
A light in the world Matthew 5:14
An overcomer 1 John 2:14, 5:4
A priest of God 1 Peter 2:9
An ambassador for Christ Ephesians 6:20
Have you given your life to Christ? Is His Spirit living in you? Then, remember who you are!
http://www.ficm.org/whoiam.htm
http://www.ficm.org/whoiam.htm
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=5e06aa5d562d95ed29bd
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Our Hope ... to share
We've discussed at our breakfasts that many around us will face hardship and extra stress with the economy in recession, and some without work. I'm so thankful that followers of Jesus Christ can have hope in any circumstances we find ourselves in.
The dictionary has a couple of definitions for hope that I thought were applicable:
1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
2. A person or thing in which expectations are centered.
We know that God is in control and has a plan, and the end of the book says, the good guys win. We also know that Jesus is the person in which all our expectations are centered. He is our hope!
Man has always recognized the importance of hope as stated by Orison Marden, “There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow.”
Here are some versus that point out some key Biblical principles about hope:
The dictionary has a couple of definitions for hope that I thought were applicable:
1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
2. A person or thing in which expectations are centered.
We know that God is in control and has a plan, and the end of the book says, the good guys win. We also know that Jesus is the person in which all our expectations are centered. He is our hope!
Man has always recognized the importance of hope as stated by Orison Marden, “There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow.”
Here are some versus that point out some key Biblical principles about hope:
- Without Christ there is no hope. Ephesians 2:11-12 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
- In Christ we have hope. Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
- God’s Word, the Bible, gives us encouragement and hope. Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
- As followers of Christ, we should share our hope with others. 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
YOUR HOPE
No matter how difficult any situation appears, the Lord Jesus Christ has overcome it. God will not allow anything into your life that is beyond His control or beyond your ability to endure without sinning. Trials are for your good; and, as you respond biblically, give opportunity for the power of God to show forth in your life. In difficulties, God’s comfort and sustaining care are available to you.
No matter how difficult any situation appears, the Lord Jesus Christ has overcome it. God will not allow anything into your life that is beyond His control or beyond your ability to endure without sinning. Trials are for your good; and, as you respond biblically, give opportunity for the power of God to show forth in your life. In difficulties, God’s comfort and sustaining care are available to you.
As you or those around you face dark or scary times, remember your hope, and the anonymous quote: "Don't lose hope. When it gets darkest, the stars come out!"
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