Psalm 65:2- "O You who hear prayer..." As I read Psalm 65 this morning, I was able to reflect on this - Our LORD hears prayer. No gods or idols hear. They can not hear. They are deaf and mute. There is no power in them to do anything. But our God - He hears our prayer. An not only does He hear our prayer, but He atones for our transgressions (vs. 3). No gods or idols can atone for transgressions. They can not even move or cause anything to move. They are still. But our God atoned once and for all for not only one sin but for the sin of the world (John 1:29). Not only does our God hear and atone for sin but He also preforms awesome deeds (vs. 5). Vs. 7 speaks of Him stilling the roaring seas and waves. No god, idol or man has this kind of ability. Only our God and we read in Mark 4:35-41, Jesus doing the very thing Psalm 65:7 speaks of. No god or idol is like our GOD. And it is to God, we run to every day to hollow His name, looking for His return, desiring His will, supplying our daily needs, forgiving our sin, leading us not into temptation (and leading us into the paths of righteousness) and delivering us from evil. This is our God who hears us.
"Thank You Father for hearing our cry. Evening and morning and at noon hear our prayers (Ps. 55:17) and we thank You in advance for doing the impossible day by day. We love You because You first loved us. Amen"
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
His Unfailing Love
I have been musing over the importance of reading and studying the word of God these past few months (as I prepare also for the Jr. High Bible classes). And one thing that keeps coming to mind as I read the scriptures is there must be a desire to be in His word. We can read out of duty, but that is kind of odd. Would I say I spend time with my wife because I feel like it is my duty? Of course not, I spend time with her because I can hardly think of a better way to spend the day. I long to have moments with my bride. So it is with the word of God. Time in His word is spending time with Him.
Jesus put it this way, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Matt.5:6) Desire is vital to having a good start to reading and studying the Bible.
Today as I was reading Psalm 143 (vs. 8) I stumbled upon another reason for remaining in His word daily. Listen to this verse and then think about it for a moment - "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love,..." (Now think about this before reading on. What might you find a bit peculiar about his words to God?)
David had found himself between a rock and a hard place. If God were to judge him (or any man) he could not stand, for no living man is righteous in God's sight (vs. 2). On the other hand, he had his enemy breathing down his back, ready to wipe him off the face of the earth (Vs.3). This rock and hard place caused David to do the only thing David knew how to do when facing impossible situations - Call on the LORD. That is what Psalm 143 is - his prayer to God in the midst of this dilemma.
Think again now upon David's request. "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love..." "Unfailing love", he is talking to the promise keeping God who would never fail or never break His promise. He is talking about a love that is promised and never to fail. He knows that God's love is there. So why would he have to hear, the first thing in the morning, of God's unfailing love?
We are relational beings created by God almighty who is relational and created us to have a relationship with Him (Gen. 3:8-9). We know He loves us, but to hear it... again. That is sometimes like rain falling on the sun baked ground (vs.6). It is refreshing and invigorating. And sometimes we just need to hear it once again. Not that we do not believe it, but that it restores and replenishes us.
Think of parallels to this fact. Dad and Mom, they love you, but isn't it good to hear that from time to time. Brothers and sisters, they love you, but isn't it good to get it straight from their mouth. Friends and kin, they love you, but isn't it good to get a note or word from them. We all desire to hear the obvious and be reminded of the truth. We somehow forget or think that the other has forgotten and when we hear those words - "I love you" we are ready for whatever is next.
Take time today to be in our Lord's word today. It is something you don't want to miss. Thank Him too for giving you a hunger to be in His word (whatever the reason may be.)
Jesus put it this way, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Matt.5:6) Desire is vital to having a good start to reading and studying the Bible.
Today as I was reading Psalm 143 (vs. 8) I stumbled upon another reason for remaining in His word daily. Listen to this verse and then think about it for a moment - "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love,..." (Now think about this before reading on. What might you find a bit peculiar about his words to God?)
David had found himself between a rock and a hard place. If God were to judge him (or any man) he could not stand, for no living man is righteous in God's sight (vs. 2). On the other hand, he had his enemy breathing down his back, ready to wipe him off the face of the earth (Vs.3). This rock and hard place caused David to do the only thing David knew how to do when facing impossible situations - Call on the LORD. That is what Psalm 143 is - his prayer to God in the midst of this dilemma.
Think again now upon David's request. "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love..." "Unfailing love", he is talking to the promise keeping God who would never fail or never break His promise. He is talking about a love that is promised and never to fail. He knows that God's love is there. So why would he have to hear, the first thing in the morning, of God's unfailing love?
We are relational beings created by God almighty who is relational and created us to have a relationship with Him (Gen. 3:8-9). We know He loves us, but to hear it... again. That is sometimes like rain falling on the sun baked ground (vs.6). It is refreshing and invigorating. And sometimes we just need to hear it once again. Not that we do not believe it, but that it restores and replenishes us.
Think of parallels to this fact. Dad and Mom, they love you, but isn't it good to hear that from time to time. Brothers and sisters, they love you, but isn't it good to get it straight from their mouth. Friends and kin, they love you, but isn't it good to get a note or word from them. We all desire to hear the obvious and be reminded of the truth. We somehow forget or think that the other has forgotten and when we hear those words - "I love you" we are ready for whatever is next.
Take time today to be in our Lord's word today. It is something you don't want to miss. Thank Him too for giving you a hunger to be in His word (whatever the reason may be.)
Friday, June 1, 2012
To Be With Jesus
All through the years of our walk with the Lord, we are reminded that He will always be with us. This is a comforting truth and we can find this truth in many places in the Bible but one in particular if you ever doubt is Matt. 28:20..."I am with you always..." As I was praying this morning for our Lord Jesus' soon return, I was reminded that all this time (since He ascended up into heaven, Acts 1:9) He has been preparing a place for us. Wow, what a place that will be! But in His words to His disciples He said something that caught my attention this morning. Listen to the words of our Lord Jesus (just before He went to the cross to sacrificially die for sins.) John 14:1-3 - "Do not let your hearts be troubled, you believe in God, believe in Me. In my Father's house are many dwelling places, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again to take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. Someday, we will experience being with Him as He has always been with us.
The good news (The Gospel) is that Jesus died for our sins and that He rose again. His death is often highlighted in the proclamation of the gospel and sometimes you have to really listen to hear of His resurrection. But both are the ingredients of the gospel. We rejoice in the fact that our sins are permanently removed and we have great hope that one day our bodies will be raised from the dust of the earth to be with God forever more. What a day that will be and the day all creation groans for. For now, to be absent from the body (death) is to be present with the Lord. (2 Cor. 5:8)
Today, I pray that our Lord Jesus would come. For when He comes we shall not all sleep, but in a moment, in the twinkle of an eye, we shall be changed. (1 Cor. 15:52) This is our hope, this is our joy in the midst of trials and suffering. One day we will be with Him whether in spirit or in body, but when He comes again, for sure that day we will be with Him in body.
"Thank you Lord Jesus for promising us that You will always be with us and for giving us the hope that when we leave this land of the dying we will forever be with You. Amen"
The good news (The Gospel) is that Jesus died for our sins and that He rose again. His death is often highlighted in the proclamation of the gospel and sometimes you have to really listen to hear of His resurrection. But both are the ingredients of the gospel. We rejoice in the fact that our sins are permanently removed and we have great hope that one day our bodies will be raised from the dust of the earth to be with God forever more. What a day that will be and the day all creation groans for. For now, to be absent from the body (death) is to be present with the Lord. (2 Cor. 5:8)
Today, I pray that our Lord Jesus would come. For when He comes we shall not all sleep, but in a moment, in the twinkle of an eye, we shall be changed. (1 Cor. 15:52) This is our hope, this is our joy in the midst of trials and suffering. One day we will be with Him whether in spirit or in body, but when He comes again, for sure that day we will be with Him in body.
"Thank you Lord Jesus for promising us that You will always be with us and for giving us the hope that when we leave this land of the dying we will forever be with You. Amen"
Thursday, April 5, 2012
"If You can?"
“If You can?” (Mark 9:23,NIV)
(Mark 9:1-13) 3 disciples just witnessed the future resurrection as they saw Jesus transfigured before their very eyes. They did not understand the significance of the moment as they watched Moses and Elijah (the embodiment of the Law and the Prophets) talk with Jesus. We too loose sight of the future resurrection that awaits all those who have placed their confidence in Jesus.
But as they were coming down from this “mountain top” experience they were faced with the hardness of hearts again. Jesus had earlier chosen His disciples for three reasons: to be with Him, to preach the good news, and to cast out demons. Now if Jesus tells us to do something, we should be sure that not only are we suppose to do it but He will give us the strength, power, wisdom and faith to accomplish His task. But somehow the disciples lost sight of this and it was causing others to loose faith in the Savior too.
Case in point. The disciples could not cast out a stubborn demon in a young man. The father of the young man brought the case to the disciples, but the disciples were unable to complete what the Lord set them out to do.
Now the man is standing before Jesus saying something that you and I will only find in this case. The man says to Jesus – “…if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
“If you can do anything?” What is this odd statement in our almighty and all knowing Savior’s ears? “If you can do anything?” What does He do with this? Many have come to Him with their “impossible situations” and seen Him do way beyond what they could have imagined. Over and over again in the scripture it is not “If You can”, but more often, “If You will.” Now that is more like the question someone should ask.
“If you can” is questioning His authority and His power. “If you will”, gives Him the rightful authority and power to do whatever He so desires to do. “If you can” sounds similar to the words of our Lord’s adversary, Satan, who came and said, “If you are the Son of God…” “If you can”, sounds like the Pharisees and the mockers, “show us something, if you can or if you are the Son of God.”
Now this man was not mocking or even acting as an adversary. But the hardness of the disciples’ heart weighed in on this man’s impression of the Lord Jesus to the point, that he was still running to the Lord Jesus, (which was the only right thing to do), but with doubts about what the Savior could really do.
How are you running to the Lord today? Is it a matter of “if You can” or “If You will”. “If You can” is stretching you to the point of wanting your will to be done. “If You will” is demonstrating your submission to His will with all confidence that He will do what is best.
O Lord Jesus, today is another day in which we get to see Your mighty hand at work in this world. May we point everyone that we come in contact today to You, the One who can do all things and will do only that which is according to the Father’s will. Thank you for saving us and for causing us to run to You about anything and everything. Your will be done in all these things. We love You and look to You, the Author and Finisher of faith. Amen
PS. The man in Mark 9 saw Jesus drive the demon out of his son. Even though he came to Jesus with doubts, he came to Jesus. Run to Jesus.
(Mark 9:1-13) 3 disciples just witnessed the future resurrection as they saw Jesus transfigured before their very eyes. They did not understand the significance of the moment as they watched Moses and Elijah (the embodiment of the Law and the Prophets) talk with Jesus. We too loose sight of the future resurrection that awaits all those who have placed their confidence in Jesus.
But as they were coming down from this “mountain top” experience they were faced with the hardness of hearts again. Jesus had earlier chosen His disciples for three reasons: to be with Him, to preach the good news, and to cast out demons. Now if Jesus tells us to do something, we should be sure that not only are we suppose to do it but He will give us the strength, power, wisdom and faith to accomplish His task. But somehow the disciples lost sight of this and it was causing others to loose faith in the Savior too.
Case in point. The disciples could not cast out a stubborn demon in a young man. The father of the young man brought the case to the disciples, but the disciples were unable to complete what the Lord set them out to do.
Now the man is standing before Jesus saying something that you and I will only find in this case. The man says to Jesus – “…if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
“If you can do anything?” What is this odd statement in our almighty and all knowing Savior’s ears? “If you can do anything?” What does He do with this? Many have come to Him with their “impossible situations” and seen Him do way beyond what they could have imagined. Over and over again in the scripture it is not “If You can”, but more often, “If You will.” Now that is more like the question someone should ask.
“If you can” is questioning His authority and His power. “If you will”, gives Him the rightful authority and power to do whatever He so desires to do. “If you can” sounds similar to the words of our Lord’s adversary, Satan, who came and said, “If you are the Son of God…” “If you can”, sounds like the Pharisees and the mockers, “show us something, if you can or if you are the Son of God.”
Now this man was not mocking or even acting as an adversary. But the hardness of the disciples’ heart weighed in on this man’s impression of the Lord Jesus to the point, that he was still running to the Lord Jesus, (which was the only right thing to do), but with doubts about what the Savior could really do.
How are you running to the Lord today? Is it a matter of “if You can” or “If You will”. “If You can” is stretching you to the point of wanting your will to be done. “If You will” is demonstrating your submission to His will with all confidence that He will do what is best.
O Lord Jesus, today is another day in which we get to see Your mighty hand at work in this world. May we point everyone that we come in contact today to You, the One who can do all things and will do only that which is according to the Father’s will. Thank you for saving us and for causing us to run to You about anything and everything. Your will be done in all these things. We love You and look to You, the Author and Finisher of faith. Amen
PS. The man in Mark 9 saw Jesus drive the demon out of his son. Even though he came to Jesus with doubts, he came to Jesus. Run to Jesus.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Saturated in Trusting God
Romans 4:19 … he did not consider his own body…
I love this small passage from Romans 4 – let me give the contexts: Paul was teaching the Roman Church about the righteousness that comes about through faith and he was using an earthly illustration to demonstrate what that looks like. He was basically saying that Abraham was picture of someone who pleased God (just think about that for minute – pleasing God) by simple faith.
“And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory (honor) to God, being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
This is how the Lord wants us to live life daily. “Take no thought of your life, what you will eat; nor about your body, what you will put on …. And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Luke 12:23, 25) A life saturated in trusting God is so fun to live because all the work is His and we get to enjoy watching Him do that which only He can do.
We are tempted at times to take our faith filled eyes off of Jesus (who is the author and completer of our faith) and to place them on our circumstances or on our abilities or even inabilities. In times of waiting (as Abraham waited 25 years) we are tested and the faith that He has placed in our hearts becomes more and more grounded. It is not anymore, “can He do something”, but more of “when He will do something.”
I have a dear friend (another brother, David) who has been given great faith from our Lord. He has been waiting, “not considering his own body”, for almost a year with a broken toe that has kept him from work. He has confidence in the Lord’s time, things will work out – “But it is His time and waiting on Him is worth it.” I love the picture of faith that David paints for me as I watch him from a distance (he is on the other side of the United States). The Lord has not given me that kind of faith yet. I had cancer and now I don’t. David has had a broken toe and he still has a broken toe. His faith continues to be fortified as He waits on the Lord.
Thank you David for teaching me to wait on the Lord. Thank you for teaching me not to be concerned about myself with my situation. You are living example, my brother, of an individual saturated in trusting God.
I love this small passage from Romans 4 – let me give the contexts: Paul was teaching the Roman Church about the righteousness that comes about through faith and he was using an earthly illustration to demonstrate what that looks like. He was basically saying that Abraham was picture of someone who pleased God (just think about that for minute – pleasing God) by simple faith.
“And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory (honor) to God, being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
This is how the Lord wants us to live life daily. “Take no thought of your life, what you will eat; nor about your body, what you will put on …. And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Luke 12:23, 25) A life saturated in trusting God is so fun to live because all the work is His and we get to enjoy watching Him do that which only He can do.
We are tempted at times to take our faith filled eyes off of Jesus (who is the author and completer of our faith) and to place them on our circumstances or on our abilities or even inabilities. In times of waiting (as Abraham waited 25 years) we are tested and the faith that He has placed in our hearts becomes more and more grounded. It is not anymore, “can He do something”, but more of “when He will do something.”
I have a dear friend (another brother, David) who has been given great faith from our Lord. He has been waiting, “not considering his own body”, for almost a year with a broken toe that has kept him from work. He has confidence in the Lord’s time, things will work out – “But it is His time and waiting on Him is worth it.” I love the picture of faith that David paints for me as I watch him from a distance (he is on the other side of the United States). The Lord has not given me that kind of faith yet. I had cancer and now I don’t. David has had a broken toe and he still has a broken toe. His faith continues to be fortified as He waits on the Lord.
Thank you David for teaching me to wait on the Lord. Thank you for teaching me not to be concerned about myself with my situation. You are living example, my brother, of an individual saturated in trusting God.
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