I have a habit of taking a small, pocket notebook with me where ever I go. It is small enough to fit in my back pocket. As the day goes by and my heart meditates, sometimes God drops a golden nugget into my meditations. At other times, He will just blurt something into my spirit as my mind is occupied with my present duties. Either way, I have learned to write these golden nuggets down while they are fresh. Then, later on. I take some time to meditate on them and let them sink into my spirit. Here are some of them. I hope you enjoy.
God defines us by what He brings us through. This is when we see what we are made of.
Egypt had all the weapons at their disposal to force the Hebrews back into bondage.
God had and unseen weapon---His Word--that manifested itself when Egypt's army least expected it. His Word manifested when they thought for sure that victory was theirs.
In all actuality, the victory was God's and God's people ever since the moment God spoke it to Abraham.
Peter saw the need for the Savior to live. Therefore, he spoke and acted like he did.
Jesus saw the need to die and obey his Father's will. Therefore, He spoke and acted like He did.
You only need to be willing because God is the One Who is well able. Isaiah 1:19 says that if we are WILLING and OBEDIENT we will eat the good of the land.
It's important for me to learn something from what I am going through today.
If it wasn't important, God would have changed the day. Look for God opportunities to grow and learn in Him.
God would never give me a job that I couldn't do.
He would never let me face an enemy that HE could not destroy.
Pilate's and the high priest's efforts to stop God's will for Jesus were futile. They didn't know that. They thought that they were enforcing THEIR will on Jesus.
Jesus knew their actions were futile. That's why He steadfastly endured their efforts.
As I know Him, I also know that my enemies' efforts the thwart God's will for my life are futile. Therefore, I will walk on like a hero--a man of God.
Have you been thinking good thoughts lately?
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
God's Word--The Christian's Secret Weapon
Exodus 14 tells how God brought a mighty victory to his children. The angel of death had already taken the firstborn.
Side note: Ex 4:22--And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel [is] my son, [even] my firstborn:
Ex 4:23--And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, [even] thy firstborn.
Everyone else looked at the 2 million people as being 500 years removed from the birth of Isaac. That's even the way it seemed to the Hebrews in captivity. BUT--it is not how other people or even natural circumstances view you. It is how God sees you and how God describes your circumstances.
Now the children of Israel had the Red Sea in front of them, a wilderness on both sides and a very angry Pharaoh and his army behind them. And, no, God was not far away watching and biting his fingernails while He wondered what would become of them. He had already spoken to Abraham some 500 years before that this very thing would happen. He, also, told Abraham that He would judge the nation that held them captive (Gen 15:14).
If you were watching this on CNN news, (since they habitually get the news wrong anyway) you would see a well-trained, well-armed, frothing-at-the-mouth army advancing on foot and in chariots. You would see the helpless (?) men, women and children huddled together as they wondered what would happen next. If they could peer into heaven, they would still not see God biting His nails. If CNN looked to God at all, they would have seen Him smiling as His well-thought out AND choreographed plan worked just the way He wanted it to.
You see, the END of this story was what we would call "engraved in stone" some five hundred years before, when God told Abraham what would happen. The Word of God was not a theory, a philosophy or a fairy tale. For five hundred years, the Word of God was a small piece of history that had not come to pass yet. We have been taught all of our lives the truth of this story.
If the Hebrews had viewed the Word of God as Abraham did, they would have been dancing around the campfires and in the middle of the streets every day of their captivity. They would have been talking excitedly to each other instead of singing the blues all of their lives. Near the end of their captivity, the newborn male children were slaughtered, they were forced into labor, they were beaten unmercifully and had every reason to moan and groan. Naturally, they did---just as we would do in similar circumstances.
However, had they viewed the Word of God as being the truth in their situation instead of the situation being the absolute truth about them, their actions would be much different. They would have joyously gone about serving the Lord their God. They would have encouraged each other when things looked bleak. They would have memorized the Word of God concerning their future and quoted it over and over and over again. The Word of God would have become the reality in their lives. The circumstances that they faced would have been just something they knew they had to go through.
Now, back to the war zone. Just as everything got bleaker than it ever could and the horrible end seemed to be certain and very near, God did something the enemy never expected. He honored his Word with a vengeance. You see, the Hebrews had a secret weapon. It was the integrity of God and His Word. God's Word was mightier than any enemy that they faced.
And, He and His Word still are. As Christians in these trying times, we need to be clinging more and more to God than we ever have. There are things that I am going through right now that I just can't figure out. Just because I can't, doesn't mean that God hasn't. Jer 29:11 says that God already has figured out a plan for me, and you as well. Instead of focusing on the problem, let's rally around the answer and do a little dancing in the streets. Let's encourage one another to trust God and His Word. Let's serve Him with all of our hearts. The day will come when a loving God will call from His throne, "It's time for the Word to come to pass." Then like the Hebrews, we will see our enemies no more and God will bring us into His promises.
Side note: Ex 4:22--And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel [is] my son, [even] my firstborn:
Ex 4:23--And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, [even] thy firstborn.
Everyone else looked at the 2 million people as being 500 years removed from the birth of Isaac. That's even the way it seemed to the Hebrews in captivity. BUT--it is not how other people or even natural circumstances view you. It is how God sees you and how God describes your circumstances.
Now the children of Israel had the Red Sea in front of them, a wilderness on both sides and a very angry Pharaoh and his army behind them. And, no, God was not far away watching and biting his fingernails while He wondered what would become of them. He had already spoken to Abraham some 500 years before that this very thing would happen. He, also, told Abraham that He would judge the nation that held them captive (Gen 15:14).
If you were watching this on CNN news, (since they habitually get the news wrong anyway) you would see a well-trained, well-armed, frothing-at-the-mouth army advancing on foot and in chariots. You would see the helpless (?) men, women and children huddled together as they wondered what would happen next. If they could peer into heaven, they would still not see God biting His nails. If CNN looked to God at all, they would have seen Him smiling as His well-thought out AND choreographed plan worked just the way He wanted it to.
You see, the END of this story was what we would call "engraved in stone" some five hundred years before, when God told Abraham what would happen. The Word of God was not a theory, a philosophy or a fairy tale. For five hundred years, the Word of God was a small piece of history that had not come to pass yet. We have been taught all of our lives the truth of this story.
If the Hebrews had viewed the Word of God as Abraham did, they would have been dancing around the campfires and in the middle of the streets every day of their captivity. They would have been talking excitedly to each other instead of singing the blues all of their lives. Near the end of their captivity, the newborn male children were slaughtered, they were forced into labor, they were beaten unmercifully and had every reason to moan and groan. Naturally, they did---just as we would do in similar circumstances.
However, had they viewed the Word of God as being the truth in their situation instead of the situation being the absolute truth about them, their actions would be much different. They would have joyously gone about serving the Lord their God. They would have encouraged each other when things looked bleak. They would have memorized the Word of God concerning their future and quoted it over and over and over again. The Word of God would have become the reality in their lives. The circumstances that they faced would have been just something they knew they had to go through.
Now, back to the war zone. Just as everything got bleaker than it ever could and the horrible end seemed to be certain and very near, God did something the enemy never expected. He honored his Word with a vengeance. You see, the Hebrews had a secret weapon. It was the integrity of God and His Word. God's Word was mightier than any enemy that they faced.
And, He and His Word still are. As Christians in these trying times, we need to be clinging more and more to God than we ever have. There are things that I am going through right now that I just can't figure out. Just because I can't, doesn't mean that God hasn't. Jer 29:11 says that God already has figured out a plan for me, and you as well. Instead of focusing on the problem, let's rally around the answer and do a little dancing in the streets. Let's encourage one another to trust God and His Word. Let's serve Him with all of our hearts. The day will come when a loving God will call from His throne, "It's time for the Word to come to pass." Then like the Hebrews, we will see our enemies no more and God will bring us into His promises.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
God, the Superlative Reconnaissance
When a military force attempts to go into an enemy's area, they will ALWAYS send in a reconnaissance team. That team is to find out WHERE the enemy is, HOW MANY there are, and HOW STRONG they are. Their job is to obtain enough information to determine if their unit will be able to overthrow the enemy and win the day.
God will never lead us into an area that He has not scouted out first and decided that, with His help, we can win the day. Even if it seems like we are passing through "the valley of the shadow of death," God has been there ahead of us. He knows the enemy. He knows EXACTLY where he is. He knows EXACTLY how strong he is. And, He knows EXACTLY what kind of tactics will be needed to overthrow the enemy. That's why God has so brazenly lead us into this unknown area that looks like defeat instead of victory.
The idea is, if we are trusting God that He has it all under control, then we need to face the enemy with just that idea. This day is ours because we stand with Him. God has already seen this place and has already seen us standing victorious in it. There is nothing in this valley that faith in God CANNOT overcome. God has already scouted the area and the enemy.
Let's relax in His presence. Let us rejoice in His overwhelming force. We are not in this valley alone. He is with us. He brought us down this path, not to have us defeated. He brought us down this path, today, to bring us a mighty victory. Let us rejoice and praise Him.
God will never lead us into an area that He has not scouted out first and decided that, with His help, we can win the day. Even if it seems like we are passing through "the valley of the shadow of death," God has been there ahead of us. He knows the enemy. He knows EXACTLY where he is. He knows EXACTLY how strong he is. And, He knows EXACTLY what kind of tactics will be needed to overthrow the enemy. That's why God has so brazenly lead us into this unknown area that looks like defeat instead of victory.
The idea is, if we are trusting God that He has it all under control, then we need to face the enemy with just that idea. This day is ours because we stand with Him. God has already seen this place and has already seen us standing victorious in it. There is nothing in this valley that faith in God CANNOT overcome. God has already scouted the area and the enemy.
Let's relax in His presence. Let us rejoice in His overwhelming force. We are not in this valley alone. He is with us. He brought us down this path, not to have us defeated. He brought us down this path, today, to bring us a mighty victory. Let us rejoice and praise Him.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
God's Definition of You
1 John 4:4--Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1 Cor 10:13--There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].
Last night, as I was meditating on the Lord before going to sleep, God dropped something into my spirit.
Every temptation or trial the enemy brings to us has to have God's approval first. Ever wonder WHY God allows these things to happen? Meditate on this reason throughout the day.
1 Cor 10:13--There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].
Last night, as I was meditating on the Lord before going to sleep, God dropped something into my spirit.
God defines us by what He brings us through.
What we are going through right now is God's way
of showing us what we are really made of.
It is not what people see in us that counts.
It is what God sees.
God sees that you have a greater strength
than what even you might not have realized.
Have a great day my friend. And, throughout this day, see yourself as God sees you. If your trial is strong and hard, then God sees you as someone stronger. If the people that you are around aren't going through as rough and tough of a time that you are, then God sees you as the roughest and the toughest soldier in the group. Quit looking down. Look up and praise Him. Realize who and what you are in God's sight and love Him with all your heart. The victory IS yours.
Monday, April 25, 2011
The Power of the Cross--Because HE Wanted To
We can talk about all of the technicalities of the cross that you want. Was it Roman in design? Which one was the first nation to use it? Why did Jesus die on a cross and not in some other manner? Why the cross? All of these can be debated to the highest degree.
We can talk about the need of mankind for a Savior. We can discuss and prove from scripture all of the types and shadows from Moses to Boaz. We can tell all kinds of stories and take dozens of analogies as to the how, the why and wherefores.
BUT--------THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE BEHIND THE POWER OF THE CROSS IS-----BECAUSE JESUS WANTED TO. The unselfishness of His sacrifice still leaves me awestruck. He could have swept the slate clean and done away with mankind and re-created the earth with a different and better set of inhabitants. BUT HE WANTED US!!!!!!!! Puny, whimsical, defiant and rebellious US. His love for us is far greater than we can imagine. But, it is worth the imagining.
Thinking and meditating on His love for us is THE greatest faith builder there is. Out of all the books, pamphlets and online sermons we could read, NONE could do us any greater good than to take between five to fifteen minutes out of every day and think of nothing but how much Jesus loves us.
Your love for Jesus and your fellow man would go up. Your faith in Him would be stronger. Your blood pressure would go down. Your small stress-induced aches and pains would go away. Joy would begin filling your soul until it spilled over. There's no telling what kind of miracles would take place in your life if you spent time meditating on His love for you.
The power of the cross would become more alive in you than ever before. You would find new meaning in your relationship with Him. Plus, you would be more willing to share your experience of love for Him with others. And, THAT is what the Christian experience is all about.
Much love,
Henry
We can talk about the need of mankind for a Savior. We can discuss and prove from scripture all of the types and shadows from Moses to Boaz. We can tell all kinds of stories and take dozens of analogies as to the how, the why and wherefores.
BUT--------THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE BEHIND THE POWER OF THE CROSS IS-----BECAUSE JESUS WANTED TO. The unselfishness of His sacrifice still leaves me awestruck. He could have swept the slate clean and done away with mankind and re-created the earth with a different and better set of inhabitants. BUT HE WANTED US!!!!!!!! Puny, whimsical, defiant and rebellious US. His love for us is far greater than we can imagine. But, it is worth the imagining.
Thinking and meditating on His love for us is THE greatest faith builder there is. Out of all the books, pamphlets and online sermons we could read, NONE could do us any greater good than to take between five to fifteen minutes out of every day and think of nothing but how much Jesus loves us.
Your love for Jesus and your fellow man would go up. Your faith in Him would be stronger. Your blood pressure would go down. Your small stress-induced aches and pains would go away. Joy would begin filling your soul until it spilled over. There's no telling what kind of miracles would take place in your life if you spent time meditating on His love for you.
The power of the cross would become more alive in you than ever before. You would find new meaning in your relationship with Him. Plus, you would be more willing to share your experience of love for Him with others. And, THAT is what the Christian experience is all about.
Much love,
Henry
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The Cross-God Does Not Throw Mankind Away
Gen 3:15-And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This is the curse that God placed on satan after he deceived mankind and led them into sin. It is interesting to note that God dealt with satan BEFORE He dealt with Adam and Eve.
Enmity--Satan and his imps have always been at war against the saints of God. It would be the greatest awakening in the Christian world if they would wake up and understand that God wants us to fight satan and not each other. However, the master deceiver has convinced us that the Christian's battle is against each other and not him. Paul knew the truth. Eph 6:12-For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. One of the keys to Paul's soul-winning success is the fact that, through prayer, he made war against his real enemy, satan, instead of those who were puppets of the deceiver.
Vengeance-I pray that I can get this word over to you the way God has impressed it into my heart. God said to satan, "You have caused my loved one to stumble and fall. You have brought shame and disgrace into her life. You have caused her grief. You have picked on her because she was a weaker vessel. You kept after her until she fell for your evil scheme. BUT, from this very one that you have hurt the most, SHALL come an avenger. Satan, you WILL NOT get away with this. THE SEED OF THIS WOMAN SHALL BRUISE YOUR HEAD."
We need to take great joy in the fact that where satan intended a life time of grief and woe, God instituted a plan to bring love and joy. God DID NOT leave mankind to satan's evil devices. He REMAINED faithful in His love and providence to His love child, even though they fell. Let me say it again---God's love NEVER failed. Where satan intended destruction, God called for HIS rebuilding program that was greater than the destruction. The God-powered reconstruction process began with the cross. Our sins were nailed to that cross by vicarious death of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. As He rose victorious over life's destruction, He paved the way for mankind to be rebuilt by the glorious power of God.
Just because Eve sinned, God did not throw her away--He redeemed her and brought her vengeance. Just because Mary Magdalene allowed seven devils to come into her--God redeemed her. He not only cast them out of her, she became a key player in His resurrection. The thief crucified with Jesus was paying the penalty for his treacherous ways. However, Jesus did not throw Him away. At his repentance, Jesus said, "Today you will be with Me in paradise." God has no throw-away people. People throw their own lives away. God's intention with the cross was to bring people BACK into fellowship with HIM and restore all that satan had taken from them.
This is the curse that God placed on satan after he deceived mankind and led them into sin. It is interesting to note that God dealt with satan BEFORE He dealt with Adam and Eve.
Enmity--Satan and his imps have always been at war against the saints of God. It would be the greatest awakening in the Christian world if they would wake up and understand that God wants us to fight satan and not each other. However, the master deceiver has convinced us that the Christian's battle is against each other and not him. Paul knew the truth. Eph 6:12-For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. One of the keys to Paul's soul-winning success is the fact that, through prayer, he made war against his real enemy, satan, instead of those who were puppets of the deceiver.
Vengeance-I pray that I can get this word over to you the way God has impressed it into my heart. God said to satan, "You have caused my loved one to stumble and fall. You have brought shame and disgrace into her life. You have caused her grief. You have picked on her because she was a weaker vessel. You kept after her until she fell for your evil scheme. BUT, from this very one that you have hurt the most, SHALL come an avenger. Satan, you WILL NOT get away with this. THE SEED OF THIS WOMAN SHALL BRUISE YOUR HEAD."
We need to take great joy in the fact that where satan intended a life time of grief and woe, God instituted a plan to bring love and joy. God DID NOT leave mankind to satan's evil devices. He REMAINED faithful in His love and providence to His love child, even though they fell. Let me say it again---God's love NEVER failed. Where satan intended destruction, God called for HIS rebuilding program that was greater than the destruction. The God-powered reconstruction process began with the cross. Our sins were nailed to that cross by vicarious death of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. As He rose victorious over life's destruction, He paved the way for mankind to be rebuilt by the glorious power of God.
Just because Eve sinned, God did not throw her away--He redeemed her and brought her vengeance. Just because Mary Magdalene allowed seven devils to come into her--God redeemed her. He not only cast them out of her, she became a key player in His resurrection. The thief crucified with Jesus was paying the penalty for his treacherous ways. However, Jesus did not throw Him away. At his repentance, Jesus said, "Today you will be with Me in paradise." God has no throw-away people. People throw their own lives away. God's intention with the cross was to bring people BACK into fellowship with HIM and restore all that satan had taken from them.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The Preaching of the Cross is the Power of God
1 Cor 1:18-For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
In this simple statement, Paul places before the Christian a very strong foundation from which we can build a successful life. He declares that the preaching of the cross is the power of God to us. The Greek word for power in this verse is 'dunamis' from which we get the word dynamite. Here is the definition of the word dunamis.
1) strength power, ability
a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
b) power for performing miracles
c) moral power and excellence of soul
d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
e) power and resources arising from numbers
f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
Let's examine some of the reasons that Paul declares that the preaching of the cross is the power of God. One of the key reasons for the cross is found in John 3:16--For God so loved the world. We will all agree that there was no real reason that God should love His created creature after Adam sinned and sold his right to rule the world. This great Creator God, could have destroyed this miscreant and started all over with someone else that would have been more worthy to give a world full of beauty to. However, we have to see that as easy as this seems, God's 'dunamis' love refused the idea altogether. His great love for the human race put in place a plan to buy back sinful man and restore to him all of the pleasures that God had instituted in the first place.
Let this be totally apparent to us all. It was His love for us that kept Him from destroying everything. It was His love for us that caused Him to send His only begotten Son. It was His love for us that made Him devise a plan to put a stop to the torture and ridicule of satan. As I have stated in previous blogs, the believer should meditate wholly on God's overwhelming love for us instead of all the meanness that surrounds us every day.
As we meditate on His great love for ourselves, we become fearless giants. As we meditate on His great love, we become more encouraged to enter His presence not only on a daily basis but remain there more and more throughout the day. As we meditate on His great love for us, it fans the smouldering embers of the fire that we once knew the day we received Him as our personal Savior. On that day, we drank deeply of His love and became filled with joy at His presence. When we meditate on His great love for us, we also become aware of His great love for all mankind. And as we do that, we push away the habits that we have gotten used to and begin to bring forth a greater habit. The POWERFUL habit of prayer to a loving God who DESIGNED the cross to display not only His power but His great love.
In this simple statement, Paul places before the Christian a very strong foundation from which we can build a successful life. He declares that the preaching of the cross is the power of God to us. The Greek word for power in this verse is 'dunamis' from which we get the word dynamite. Here is the definition of the word dunamis.
1) strength power, ability
a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
b) power for performing miracles
c) moral power and excellence of soul
d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
e) power and resources arising from numbers
f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
Let's examine some of the reasons that Paul declares that the preaching of the cross is the power of God. One of the key reasons for the cross is found in John 3:16--For God so loved the world. We will all agree that there was no real reason that God should love His created creature after Adam sinned and sold his right to rule the world. This great Creator God, could have destroyed this miscreant and started all over with someone else that would have been more worthy to give a world full of beauty to. However, we have to see that as easy as this seems, God's 'dunamis' love refused the idea altogether. His great love for the human race put in place a plan to buy back sinful man and restore to him all of the pleasures that God had instituted in the first place.
Let this be totally apparent to us all. It was His love for us that kept Him from destroying everything. It was His love for us that caused Him to send His only begotten Son. It was His love for us that made Him devise a plan to put a stop to the torture and ridicule of satan. As I have stated in previous blogs, the believer should meditate wholly on God's overwhelming love for us instead of all the meanness that surrounds us every day.
As we meditate on His great love for ourselves, we become fearless giants. As we meditate on His great love, we become more encouraged to enter His presence not only on a daily basis but remain there more and more throughout the day. As we meditate on His great love for us, it fans the smouldering embers of the fire that we once knew the day we received Him as our personal Savior. On that day, we drank deeply of His love and became filled with joy at His presence. When we meditate on His great love for us, we also become aware of His great love for all mankind. And as we do that, we push away the habits that we have gotten used to and begin to bring forth a greater habit. The POWERFUL habit of prayer to a loving God who DESIGNED the cross to display not only His power but His great love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)