Jesus made His appearance here on earth in a very unassuming way. The very Son of God, the One who would bring salvation to all who would accept Him, was born in the lowliest of places. Jesus was born amidst the animals and placed in a manger (a feeding trough). "And she gave birth to her firstborn Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger . . . . ." (Luke 2:7)
Why did Jesus leave His throne in glory and make His appearance in such a lowly way? He did it for you. He did it for me. He came to bring salvation to ALL mankind. Yet, many did not notice Him. Today, many do not notice Him.
Don't miss Jesus! He isn't pushy. He isn't loud but He is here. If you have accepted His salvation, then He dwells within you and will never leave you. "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5b) Don't ignore Him. Don't get caught up in the trappings of the holiday season. Worship Him - the King of kings, the Lord of lords.
Don't miss Jesus this Christmas! Be still. Listen. Worship.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Hearing God
Having trouble hearing God? Maybe we just need to be still. "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) If we are never still and quiet before the Lord, how can we expect to hear from Him? Elijah did not hear God in the great and powerful wind, the earthquake or the fire. He heard Him in a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19)
If we are always in a turmoil or busy, busy "doing," we may miss what God is saying to us. If we spend quiet time (being still before the Lord), in His Word and in prayer, we will hear Him.
He speaks to us through His Word at our point of need. "The word of God is alive and active." (Hebrews 4:12) Try spending some time in His Word, be still and listen - you will hear Him.
If we are always in a turmoil or busy, busy "doing," we may miss what God is saying to us. If we spend quiet time (being still before the Lord), in His Word and in prayer, we will hear Him.
He speaks to us through His Word at our point of need. "The word of God is alive and active." (Hebrews 4:12) Try spending some time in His Word, be still and listen - you will hear Him.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Throughout Eternity
God has a plan for our lives (I know you all know that!) - but have you thought about the fact that His plan for Christians reaches throughout eternity? Eternal life does not begin when we die. It begins when we accept Jesus as our Saviour. God has a plan for what He wants us to do now and throughout eternity.
Do you know what God's plan is for you today? For the near future? The distant future? If you don't know, ask Him. Seek His direction and then listen. Get quiet before Him so you can hear Him. Remember His plan for our lives will always include honoring Him and bringing glory to His Name.
Are you on the right path - the one God wants you to follow? Is your life bringing glory and honor to His Name?
Isaish 30:21 says, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it'."
We must seek His plan for our lives. He will show us which way to go if we truly seek His direction. He may only show us His plan for right now so we just have to trust Him with His future plans for us. Follow Him now and throughout eternity.
Do you know what God's plan is for you today? For the near future? The distant future? If you don't know, ask Him. Seek His direction and then listen. Get quiet before Him so you can hear Him. Remember His plan for our lives will always include honoring Him and bringing glory to His Name.
Are you on the right path - the one God wants you to follow? Is your life bringing glory and honor to His Name?
Isaish 30:21 says, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it'."
We must seek His plan for our lives. He will show us which way to go if we truly seek His direction. He may only show us His plan for right now so we just have to trust Him with His future plans for us. Follow Him now and throughout eternity.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The Secret of Contentment
"Godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6)
Feeling a little discontented these days? Ask yourself, "Why?" Do a little soul-searching and while you are searching, remember that you are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). You are a unique creation of the Creator God.
Paul said in Philippians 4:11b, ". . . . .I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Paul had learned the secret of being content in every situation. That secret is found in Philippians 4:13 - "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." God can and will give us a spirit of contentment. We have to ask.
I confess, this is an area I have prayed about consistently because I often find myself lacking in the area of contentment. God gave me the verse in 1 Timothy 6:6 years ago when I was confessing my lack of contentment.
I desire above all else to be the godly woman God wants me to be, therefore, I must learn to have a spirit of contentment. The key (secret) can be found in learning to lean on Him and trust Him in everything. Contentment may not come quickly, but it will come when we completely depend on Him for our strength.
Feeling a little discontented these days? Ask yourself, "Why?" Do a little soul-searching and while you are searching, remember that you are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). You are a unique creation of the Creator God.
Paul said in Philippians 4:11b, ". . . . .I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Paul had learned the secret of being content in every situation. That secret is found in Philippians 4:13 - "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." God can and will give us a spirit of contentment. We have to ask.
I confess, this is an area I have prayed about consistently because I often find myself lacking in the area of contentment. God gave me the verse in 1 Timothy 6:6 years ago when I was confessing my lack of contentment.
I desire above all else to be the godly woman God wants me to be, therefore, I must learn to have a spirit of contentment. The key (secret) can be found in learning to lean on Him and trust Him in everything. Contentment may not come quickly, but it will come when we completely depend on Him for our strength.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Have We No Shame?
The LORD was referring to all the people, even the prophets and priests, when He stated, ". . . .they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush" (Jeremiah 6:15b). The people had gotten so far away from God they had no shame.
America comes to mind. Have we no shame at all? Do we ever blush? The depths to which our morals (as a country) have fallen, cause many to have no shame about anything they do. Our country's standards may have changed, but God's remain the same. He remains unchanged. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). His commandments are still as applicable today as the day they were engraved on two tablets by God.
Prayer: Convict us Holy Spirit if we feel no shame when we sin against God. Lord, cause us to blush once again at the wrongs around us. Help us protect our eyes, ears and minds from anything that does not please you.
America comes to mind. Have we no shame at all? Do we ever blush? The depths to which our morals (as a country) have fallen, cause many to have no shame about anything they do. Our country's standards may have changed, but God's remain the same. He remains unchanged. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). His commandments are still as applicable today as the day they were engraved on two tablets by God.
Prayer: Convict us Holy Spirit if we feel no shame when we sin against God. Lord, cause us to blush once again at the wrongs around us. Help us protect our eyes, ears and minds from anything that does not please you.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Did I make the right decision?
I have been pondering all week the sermon Ray Pritchard preached at our Awaken service Sunday evening. He began with examples of people asking, "Did I make the right decision?"
Don't we all second-guess ourselves? What can you do now if you did make a wrong decision? Well, you can't change the decision you made in the past, you just have to go forward. One thing Ray said has stuck with me all week. "Quit trying to have a better past. It is what it is."
How many times have you wished you could change your past? The fact is, no one can change their past so let's "quit trying to have a better past." Let's get on with the process of living, of going forward because how we view our past affects how we live out our future.
Ray used Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose."
If this verse is true (and it most certainly is!), then even our past will work together for our good if we are one of His children.
Did I make the right decision when I (fill in the blank)? We may not know here on earth, but we can rest in the fact that God is Sovereign and He will work out even the wrong decisions for our good and for His glory if we will allow Him to.
Ray Pritchard: "I can't go back, I can't stay here, I must go forward."
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing!" (Isaiah 43:18-19a)
Don't we all second-guess ourselves? What can you do now if you did make a wrong decision? Well, you can't change the decision you made in the past, you just have to go forward. One thing Ray said has stuck with me all week. "Quit trying to have a better past. It is what it is."
How many times have you wished you could change your past? The fact is, no one can change their past so let's "quit trying to have a better past." Let's get on with the process of living, of going forward because how we view our past affects how we live out our future.
Ray used Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose."
If this verse is true (and it most certainly is!), then even our past will work together for our good if we are one of His children.
Did I make the right decision when I (fill in the blank)? We may not know here on earth, but we can rest in the fact that God is Sovereign and He will work out even the wrong decisions for our good and for His glory if we will allow Him to.
Ray Pritchard: "I can't go back, I can't stay here, I must go forward."
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing!" (Isaiah 43:18-19a)
Monday, October 4, 2010
Seeing God In Everything
It is easy to see God in the good things in life. It's even easy to praise Him for all His blessings. But, if we could learn to see God in everything that happens to us, that would be a major breakthrough in our Christian lives.
Do you want to become more Christ-like? If you do, then learn to ask God what He wants to teach you through your difficulties rather than asking Him why you are having to experience tough things. Learn to see God in everything.
God always has a purpose in allowing everything that touches our lives. Sometimes, God takes me through difficult times because He sees something in my life that needs some pruning - some cutting away. He sometimes allows deep hurts so I will rely on no one or no thing except Him.
When we come to a place where we can truly say, "Your will, not mine Lord," then He will teach us. He will give us what we need to endure our trials and He will bring us out on the other side changed into one who looks more like Jesus. Isn't that what we desire - to be more Christ-like? (I confess, it is an ongoing process in my life.)
Because God is Sovereign, we must learn to see Him in everything. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:5-6)
Do you want to become more Christ-like? If you do, then learn to ask God what He wants to teach you through your difficulties rather than asking Him why you are having to experience tough things. Learn to see God in everything.
God always has a purpose in allowing everything that touches our lives. Sometimes, God takes me through difficult times because He sees something in my life that needs some pruning - some cutting away. He sometimes allows deep hurts so I will rely on no one or no thing except Him.
When we come to a place where we can truly say, "Your will, not mine Lord," then He will teach us. He will give us what we need to endure our trials and He will bring us out on the other side changed into one who looks more like Jesus. Isn't that what we desire - to be more Christ-like? (I confess, it is an ongoing process in my life.)
Because God is Sovereign, we must learn to see Him in everything. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:5-6)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)