"Deal or No Deal"
Exodus 34:1-35:9
Matthew 27:15-31
Psalm 33:12-22
Proverbs 9:1-6
"Deal, or No Deal?" When we were kids it was a matter of negotiating for everything from candy to toys. The basic rule is that you have to decide if what you want is worth giving something up for. It's also the name of a game show that I saw a few times that would drive me nuts. I'm not sure which is worse: the people guessing which box the money is in, or the millions of people watching someone guess which box the money is in... I think I'm on the tail end of a generation that remembers Monte Hall & "Door number 1..." That was also about determining if it was worth giving up what you had for what you couldn't see. But life is more than game shows... right?
In Exodus 34 there's a great progression of events. It's impossible for us to imagine, but try to picture this. Moses is on the Mountain with the Lord. "Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; ... The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, 'Yaweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin." (Ex 34:5-7)
I think Moses' response is cool. "Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped." When we see God for who he really is, how can we do anything but worship? If you are having a hard time worshiping, you need to hone in on his nature, and seek his face. Seek his Character. Now here's the Deal:
In Exodus 34:8 Moses says to the Lord, "Please go with us..." in verse 10-11, the Lord says, "All right, this is the contract I am going to make with you. I will do miracles... all the people of Israel shall see the power of the Lord... Your part of the agreement is to obey all of my commandments;"
Deal or No Deal? Our obedience for his presence...
Is it worth it?
Is it worth it to give up the compromises? is it worth it to step out in faith as he directs?
There always seem to be things that can rise up to get in the way of our relationship with the Lord. Many times it's our selfishness. What we too often fail to realize is that selfishness separates us from Him. We remove ourselves from His presence. We break the deal.
We need to be people of obedience to experience the fullness of his glory. Psalm 33:18-22 says, "But the eyes of the Lord are watching over those who fear him, who rely upon his steady love. He will keep them from death even in times of famine! We depend upon the Lord alone to save us. Only he can help us; he protects us like a shield. No wonder we are happy in the Lord! For we are trusting him. We trust his holy name. Yes, Lord, let your constant love surround us, for our hopes are in you alone."
It sounds like a great deal to me!
Trade what we can see for what is to come! Take the DEAL!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Showing posts with label God's promises. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's promises. Show all posts
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
1.11.12 "The Pain and the Promise"
"The Pain and the Promise"
Genesis 24:52-26:16
Matthew 8:18-34
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 3:7-8
What is the most precious "human" event in life? I would think that most would answer: the birth of a child. What is the most painful "human" event in life? I would think that most [women, at least!] would answer: the birth of a child.
"Isaac pleaded with Jehovah to give Rebekah a child, for even after many years of marriage she had no children. Then at last she became pregnant. And it seemed as though children were fighting each other inside her! "I can't endure this," she exclaimed, so she asked the Lord about it."
As you look throughout scripture there seems to a connection to pain and promise. It seems that the greater the pain, the greater the promise. Abraham is promised that he will be the father of many nations. Look at the pain of barrenness that Sarah has for so many years. This is repeated in Rebekah.
God's people are in Egypt for 400 years. They are led out by Moses toward the promised land, but there's 40 years of desert.
A sacrifice is necessary to pay the price for our sins, so God gave his only Son who suffered and died... the intense pain bringing so great a promise.
One may think "well that's kind of sadistic. To receive the promise you must have pain?" As a slave to comfort the whole concept of pain can be easily misunderstood. The reality is that for us to be trusted with the promise, we must experience being refined. The refining process is rarely comfortable. In fact, comfort works against refining. The "wilderness" events in our lives are there for the purpose of securing Godly character in difficult times. Remember James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
What is the application of this message? There are marriages that are going through rocky times. God is there. He sees it. It's worth it to stick it out. The greater the pain the greater the promise. The marriage that weathers the storm comes together with intense strength and promise. So many can't see this. They feel like "Hey, I want the Promised Land, not the wilderness!" And their heart begins to run away. What a tragedy to realize that running from the pain is running from the promise.
This applies to work situations. Some individuals live a life as a "victim" to their surroundings. Because of a difficult boss, or unfair treatment they look for another job based on the uncomfortable circumstances rather than on the voice of God. It may very well be that they are in that position for the very purpose of developing Godly character.
What happens when people "bail" from the painful situations? More often than not, the test is repeated. Remember that Jesus "for the joy set before him endured the cross." Such great pain, such enduring promise.
God is not a God of pain for the sake of pain. He created us for having an intimate relationship with Him. If you've ever gone through difficulty or tragedy, or trial, you know that these are the times that you learn to trust God as never before. This is where you rely on HIS strength, and not your own.
Whatever pain you are going through right now, understand that you are in the "gestation period" of promise. God is faithful to His Word. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will carry you if you trust Him.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Saturday, January 7, 2012
1.7.12 "What are You Laughing At?"
"What are You Laughing At?"
Genesis 16:1-18:19
Matthew 6:1-24
Psalm 7:1-17
Proverbs 2:1-5
God has a plan for your life. On any given day, we are more or less aware of the fact that he has a plan, not to mention our understanding or lack thereof of the specifics of it. Why is that? Why don't we see more of God's plan? Is it because of Him, or because of us?
The story of Abraham & Sarah is a "great read". I would love to have met these two. They seem to be very interesting people. At the beginning of Chapter 16 of Genesis, their names are still Abram & Sarai. In chapter 17 their names are changed to Abraham (meaning "father of nations") and Sarah (Meaning "princess")
Abram knows God has given him a promise. When he was 75 years old, God told Abram to "go to the land I will guide you to. If you do, I will cause you to become the father of a great nation; I will bless you and make your name famous." (Genesis 12:1-2)
Abram is obedient. Sarai also knows the plan. She realizes though, that the clock is ticking. "We're not getting any younger Abram..." (not a verse, but I can hear it!) When Abram is 86 Sarai realizes that God must need a little help. (If this were the movie, the music would get more ominous here.)
Sarai's plan is this: "Since the Lord has given me no children... you may sleep with my servant girl, and her children shall be mine" And Abram agreed. When Hagar (the servant girl) realized she was pregnant, "she became very proud and arrogant toward her mistress Sarai. Then Sarai said to Abram, 'It's all your fault. For now this servant girl of mine despises me, though I myself gave her the privilege of being your wife. May the Lord judge you for doing this to me!'" (Can you see why the Lord changed her name to Princess???)
Sarai and Abram took God's plan into their own hands. They manipulated it. They tried to make it THEIR plan. Remember in yesterday's reading the warning about getting your own way? Well, read the account of Hagar in Gen.16:7-16. It's the birth of the Islamic nation... You can see the fruit of Ishmael motivating so much of the world today.
In chapter 17, God reiterates the promise in terms of a contract with Abraham & Sarah. He says, "'It is a contract that I shall be your God and the God of your posterity. And I will give all this land of Canaan to you and them, forever. And I will be your God. Your part of the contract,' God told him, 'is to obey its terms. You personally and all your posterity have this continual responsibility..." Gen. 17:8-10
That applies to our lives. Our job is simply to obey his direction whatever that may be. We want to know SO BAD what he has in store... what his plan is. The danger is, if we know too much, we too often take HIS plan into OUR hands and MESS IT UP. We try to manipulate God's will. In Gen 18:17 God says, "Should I hide my plan from Abraham?"
Now Abraham is 99 years old, and again the Lord reiterates the promise. When the Lord speaks to them this time, both Abraham and Sarah laugh (Gen.17:17; 18:12)
"Then God said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say 'Can an old woman like me have a baby?' Is anything too hard for God?" (18:13-14)
So many times we hope for the promise that seems so impossible. We almost laugh because it can't be done. "Can God heal my marriage?" "Can God save my loved one?" What are you laughing at? What seems impossible?
Our part of the deal is to discipline ourselves to obedience. He is a faithful God. We need to position ourselves to receive from Him. We need to constrain ourselves to the center of His will as he reveals it to us, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. We have to guard from beginning to manipulate the Plan into what WE think it should be. All we do is tie his hands from making HIS name great!
Be obedient today!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Genesis 16:1-18:19
Matthew 6:1-24
Psalm 7:1-17
Proverbs 2:1-5
God has a plan for your life. On any given day, we are more or less aware of the fact that he has a plan, not to mention our understanding or lack thereof of the specifics of it. Why is that? Why don't we see more of God's plan? Is it because of Him, or because of us?
The story of Abraham & Sarah is a "great read". I would love to have met these two. They seem to be very interesting people. At the beginning of Chapter 16 of Genesis, their names are still Abram & Sarai. In chapter 17 their names are changed to Abraham (meaning "father of nations") and Sarah (Meaning "princess")
Abram knows God has given him a promise. When he was 75 years old, God told Abram to "go to the land I will guide you to. If you do, I will cause you to become the father of a great nation; I will bless you and make your name famous." (Genesis 12:1-2)
Abram is obedient. Sarai also knows the plan. She realizes though, that the clock is ticking. "We're not getting any younger Abram..." (not a verse, but I can hear it!) When Abram is 86 Sarai realizes that God must need a little help. (If this were the movie, the music would get more ominous here.)
Sarai's plan is this: "Since the Lord has given me no children... you may sleep with my servant girl, and her children shall be mine" And Abram agreed. When Hagar (the servant girl) realized she was pregnant, "she became very proud and arrogant toward her mistress Sarai. Then Sarai said to Abram, 'It's all your fault. For now this servant girl of mine despises me, though I myself gave her the privilege of being your wife. May the Lord judge you for doing this to me!'" (Can you see why the Lord changed her name to Princess???)
Sarai and Abram took God's plan into their own hands. They manipulated it. They tried to make it THEIR plan. Remember in yesterday's reading the warning about getting your own way? Well, read the account of Hagar in Gen.16:7-16. It's the birth of the Islamic nation... You can see the fruit of Ishmael motivating so much of the world today.
In chapter 17, God reiterates the promise in terms of a contract with Abraham & Sarah. He says, "'It is a contract that I shall be your God and the God of your posterity. And I will give all this land of Canaan to you and them, forever. And I will be your God. Your part of the contract,' God told him, 'is to obey its terms. You personally and all your posterity have this continual responsibility..." Gen. 17:8-10
That applies to our lives. Our job is simply to obey his direction whatever that may be. We want to know SO BAD what he has in store... what his plan is. The danger is, if we know too much, we too often take HIS plan into OUR hands and MESS IT UP. We try to manipulate God's will. In Gen 18:17 God says, "Should I hide my plan from Abraham?"
Now Abraham is 99 years old, and again the Lord reiterates the promise. When the Lord speaks to them this time, both Abraham and Sarah laugh (Gen.17:17; 18:12)
"Then God said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say 'Can an old woman like me have a baby?' Is anything too hard for God?" (18:13-14)
So many times we hope for the promise that seems so impossible. We almost laugh because it can't be done. "Can God heal my marriage?" "Can God save my loved one?" What are you laughing at? What seems impossible?
Our part of the deal is to discipline ourselves to obedience. He is a faithful God. We need to position ourselves to receive from Him. We need to constrain ourselves to the center of His will as he reveals it to us, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. We have to guard from beginning to manipulate the Plan into what WE think it should be. All we do is tie his hands from making HIS name great!
Be obedient today!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Saturday, May 7, 2011
5.7.11 "Prompted by Pain"
"Prompted by Pain"
1 Samuel 1:1-2:21
John 5:1-23
Psalm 105:37-45
Proverbs 14:28-29
There is Preciousness in Frustration! What??? How can that be? Frustration is a bad thing isn't it???
The story of Hannah in the first chapter of I Samuel is the story that first got me thinking about the Preciousness of Frustration.
Hannah is barren. What makes this even more difficult is that her husband's other wife Peninnah has children. "Peninnah made matters worse by taunting Hannah because of her barrenness. Every year it was the same - Peninnah scoffing and laughing at her as they went to Shiloh, making her cry so much she couldn't eat." (I Sam 1:6-7)
There are times in our lives when we may be in a situation like this. We are hurt, and we are frustrated. We may even feel angry. We don't realize what is at stake in these moments. We too often don't understand the importance of our next step.
What was Hannah's response to the pain? She went to God in worship. "She was in deep anguish and was crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow: 'O Lord of heaven, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you, and he'll be yours for his entire lifetime, and his hair shall never be cut." (1:10-11)
As if she wasn't frustrated enough, Eli, the priest at the tabernacle, saw the way she was praying and accused her of being drunk. For me, I think that would be the last straw. That would be my signal to go off on someone. I would use my pain to fuel an explosion of fleshly venom. Not Hannah. She responds in humility and respect.
And guess what...God answers prayer! And to make the story even more profound, she commits a tremendous act of obedience, as she returns to the Tabernacle to present her son, Samuel to the Lord's service. This boy Samuel becomes a great man of God.
In life we will have pain. What will we do with it? In our "victim" society we excuse inappropriate actions because we are "hurting". In Christian circles we say, "I'm just venting...". We need to recognize pain and frustration as an opportunity for God to move. The Obstacle that seems to be in our way is really the opportunity for God to do something great. As is the case in the story of Hannah, "The Greater the Pain, the Greater the Promise." From her great anguish came the man who would lead the people back to God.
Who would have thought that Hannah's barrenness was connected to God's plan for greatness. Who would have thought that the frustration you are going through is actually the pathway to an incredible move of God in your life and the lives of those around you.
There is only one appropriate response to pain and frustration. It's the pathway of seeking God. Of worshiping Him and responding to His direction with radical obedience. When we live THAT Lifestyle of Worship, we will understand "Dynamic" at a whole new level!
Seek him today, hear his voice. Cry out to Him. He's got great plans for you!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 1:1-2:21
John 5:1-23
Psalm 105:37-45
Proverbs 14:28-29
There is Preciousness in Frustration! What??? How can that be? Frustration is a bad thing isn't it???
The story of Hannah in the first chapter of I Samuel is the story that first got me thinking about the Preciousness of Frustration.
Hannah is barren. What makes this even more difficult is that her husband's other wife Peninnah has children. "Peninnah made matters worse by taunting Hannah because of her barrenness. Every year it was the same - Peninnah scoffing and laughing at her as they went to Shiloh, making her cry so much she couldn't eat." (I Sam 1:6-7)
There are times in our lives when we may be in a situation like this. We are hurt, and we are frustrated. We may even feel angry. We don't realize what is at stake in these moments. We too often don't understand the importance of our next step.
What was Hannah's response to the pain? She went to God in worship. "She was in deep anguish and was crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow: 'O Lord of heaven, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you, and he'll be yours for his entire lifetime, and his hair shall never be cut." (1:10-11)
As if she wasn't frustrated enough, Eli, the priest at the tabernacle, saw the way she was praying and accused her of being drunk. For me, I think that would be the last straw. That would be my signal to go off on someone. I would use my pain to fuel an explosion of fleshly venom. Not Hannah. She responds in humility and respect.
And guess what...God answers prayer! And to make the story even more profound, she commits a tremendous act of obedience, as she returns to the Tabernacle to present her son, Samuel to the Lord's service. This boy Samuel becomes a great man of God.
In life we will have pain. What will we do with it? In our "victim" society we excuse inappropriate actions because we are "hurting". In Christian circles we say, "I'm just venting...". We need to recognize pain and frustration as an opportunity for God to move. The Obstacle that seems to be in our way is really the opportunity for God to do something great. As is the case in the story of Hannah, "The Greater the Pain, the Greater the Promise." From her great anguish came the man who would lead the people back to God.
Who would have thought that Hannah's barrenness was connected to God's plan for greatness. Who would have thought that the frustration you are going through is actually the pathway to an incredible move of God in your life and the lives of those around you.
There is only one appropriate response to pain and frustration. It's the pathway of seeking God. Of worshiping Him and responding to His direction with radical obedience. When we live THAT Lifestyle of Worship, we will understand "Dynamic" at a whole new level!
Seek him today, hear his voice. Cry out to Him. He's got great plans for you!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, January 13, 2011
1.13.11 "The Promise and the Preparation"
"The Promise and the Preparation"
Genesis 28:1-29:35
Matthew 9:18-38
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 3:11-12
Here's a question for consideration: Does God give vision to disciplined people, or does God give vision so people develop discipline? Today's passages bring an element of that discussion to light.
The stories of the descendants of Abraham are fascinating. There are so many things that seem so quirky at first glance, but to see how God lays out his plan and completes his work is very cool.
Jacob, the son of Isaac & Rebekah has "stolen" the birthright of his brother Esau. Esau gave up everything for the bowl of chili. Isaac, is very upset about this, but as we read yesterday, he honors it. This "deceiver" now holds the promise of Abraham.
So now what? What should happen? Well, because of the angst between Jacob & Esau, Isaac & Rebekah feel it's in the best interest to send Jacob off to find a wife. As he's alone in the countryside, he sets up camp. He uses a stone for a pillow. The one who is now the recipient of this incredible promise is now alone at night with his head on a rock. Up to this point he is carrying the promise that he has received from his father. He's about experience the promise for himself.
You may remember pictures of this story from Sunday School: he has a vision of a stairway to heaven. It's incredible! "For you will have descendants as many as dust!... All the nations of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. What's more, I am with you and will protect you wherever you do, and will bring you back safely to this land; I will be with you constantly until I have finished giving you all I am promising you."
How cool is that! How would you react to that vision? What was his father's promise has now become his!
Each one of us have the call of God on our life. There is a plan. There is direction. We may be more or less aware of it. Why doesn't the promise "just happen"? What's the delay? We can learn so much from Jacob.
First, note that he must begin with an EXPERIENCE with God! This experience placed the fire of the promise deep within Jacob. He took that stone pillow and stood it on end, and called the place "Bethel". That place was never forgotten. Notice how often it is referred to throughout scripture. It means "the house of God". For him to have this experience, he was out of the routines of life. He was alone. We need to get alone with God. We need to set ourselves apart from the craziness to experience him. To see him for who he is. We need to get the fire within us.
In the next chapter (Gen. 29) Jacob encounters Rachel & falls in love. The next events may seem unrelated to the promise, but I find something very interesting. You know the story, Jacob works for Laban for 7 years for the privilege of marrying Rachel. At the end of 7 years, Laban pulls a "switcheroo" and gives him Leah. Jacob ends up working another 7 years to marry Rachel.
What's the significance of this? Notice how Jacob got the birthright. It was through deception. He has an experience with God, and now he needs to go through a time where God refines his character. What's his biggest flaw? Deception. What does Jacob go through? Being deceived.
Through this 14 year experience the Lord is bringing Jacob through a time of discipline. Now, it's our nature to think that this is a time of "punishment". Not so. Remember to "discipline" means "to bring into alignment". Jacob must discipline himself to work for 14 years to be prepared for the promise of Rachel.
What's that mean for us? We need to stop looking at daily circumstances and trials as something that is contrary to the plans God has for us. EVERY event in our life must be treated as an opportunity for God to complete his work in US. Too often we get on the "victim" path and we whine about how Laban tricked us, and how we think God forgot us and how this should be easy. We miss the point. God NEEDS to refine us! Heaven forbid we go out as before and pass on to future generations the flaws in our spiritual DNA.
The story of the woman to touched the hem of Jesus' garment is in today's reading as well. Do you remember the circumstances of when that happened? Jesus was on his way to do something else! A rabbi had asked for his daughter to be raised from the dead. Jesus could have just said from where he was, "go home, she's alive", but he didn't. For "some reason" there was travel involved. There was a path. And an encounter with this woman who has been sick for years. And she is healed.
Some time ago, a friend of mine was in a new job. He knew it was for a plan... a purpose. Having only been there a couple days, he lead a drug addict to the Lord. It's AMAZING what can happen "on the way" if we get the big picture of what God is trying to accomplish.
Too often we get the advice that David gets in Psalm 11. Friends (or even the enemy) can tell us this is to hard! This is hopeless. We need to have the response of David. "How dare you tell me, 'Flee to the mountains for safety,' when I am trusting the Lord?...'Law and order have collapsed,' we are told. 'What can the righteous do but flee?' But the Lord i still in his holy temple; he still rules from heaven."
In all situations, however bleak, God is on his throne!
The Proverb for today says, "Young man, do not resent it when God chastens and corrects you, for his punishment is proof of his love. Just as a father punishes a son he delights in to make him better, so the Lord corrects you." Again, too often we look at difficulties as punishment for the sake of punishment. We must look at it as God's way of bringing us into alignment.
Jacob wasn't being "punished" for being a deceiver, he was experiencing an opportunity to be brought into alignment. He was experiencing the re-alignment of his character.
The principle of Empowered through Biblical Training is discipline. We must bring ourselves into alignment of the word to experience the fullness of the promise God has for us.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Genesis 28:1-29:35
Matthew 9:18-38
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 3:11-12
Here's a question for consideration: Does God give vision to disciplined people, or does God give vision so people develop discipline? Today's passages bring an element of that discussion to light.
The stories of the descendants of Abraham are fascinating. There are so many things that seem so quirky at first glance, but to see how God lays out his plan and completes his work is very cool.
Jacob, the son of Isaac & Rebekah has "stolen" the birthright of his brother Esau. Esau gave up everything for the bowl of chili. Isaac, is very upset about this, but as we read yesterday, he honors it. This "deceiver" now holds the promise of Abraham.
So now what? What should happen? Well, because of the angst between Jacob & Esau, Isaac & Rebekah feel it's in the best interest to send Jacob off to find a wife. As he's alone in the countryside, he sets up camp. He uses a stone for a pillow. The one who is now the recipient of this incredible promise is now alone at night with his head on a rock. Up to this point he is carrying the promise that he has received from his father. He's about experience the promise for himself.
You may remember pictures of this story from Sunday School: he has a vision of a stairway to heaven. It's incredible! "For you will have descendants as many as dust!... All the nations of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. What's more, I am with you and will protect you wherever you do, and will bring you back safely to this land; I will be with you constantly until I have finished giving you all I am promising you."
How cool is that! How would you react to that vision? What was his father's promise has now become his!
Each one of us have the call of God on our life. There is a plan. There is direction. We may be more or less aware of it. Why doesn't the promise "just happen"? What's the delay? We can learn so much from Jacob.
First, note that he must begin with an EXPERIENCE with God! This experience placed the fire of the promise deep within Jacob. He took that stone pillow and stood it on end, and called the place "Bethel". That place was never forgotten. Notice how often it is referred to throughout scripture. It means "the house of God". For him to have this experience, he was out of the routines of life. He was alone. We need to get alone with God. We need to set ourselves apart from the craziness to experience him. To see him for who he is. We need to get the fire within us.
In the next chapter (Gen. 29) Jacob encounters Rachel & falls in love. The next events may seem unrelated to the promise, but I find something very interesting. You know the story, Jacob works for Laban for 7 years for the privilege of marrying Rachel. At the end of 7 years, Laban pulls a "switcheroo" and gives him Leah. Jacob ends up working another 7 years to marry Rachel.
What's the significance of this? Notice how Jacob got the birthright. It was through deception. He has an experience with God, and now he needs to go through a time where God refines his character. What's his biggest flaw? Deception. What does Jacob go through? Being deceived.
Through this 14 year experience the Lord is bringing Jacob through a time of discipline. Now, it's our nature to think that this is a time of "punishment". Not so. Remember to "discipline" means "to bring into alignment". Jacob must discipline himself to work for 14 years to be prepared for the promise of Rachel.
What's that mean for us? We need to stop looking at daily circumstances and trials as something that is contrary to the plans God has for us. EVERY event in our life must be treated as an opportunity for God to complete his work in US. Too often we get on the "victim" path and we whine about how Laban tricked us, and how we think God forgot us and how this should be easy. We miss the point. God NEEDS to refine us! Heaven forbid we go out as before and pass on to future generations the flaws in our spiritual DNA.
The story of the woman to touched the hem of Jesus' garment is in today's reading as well. Do you remember the circumstances of when that happened? Jesus was on his way to do something else! A rabbi had asked for his daughter to be raised from the dead. Jesus could have just said from where he was, "go home, she's alive", but he didn't. For "some reason" there was travel involved. There was a path. And an encounter with this woman who has been sick for years. And she is healed.
Some time ago, a friend of mine was in a new job. He knew it was for a plan... a purpose. Having only been there a couple days, he lead a drug addict to the Lord. It's AMAZING what can happen "on the way" if we get the big picture of what God is trying to accomplish.
Too often we get the advice that David gets in Psalm 11. Friends (or even the enemy) can tell us this is to hard! This is hopeless. We need to have the response of David. "How dare you tell me, 'Flee to the mountains for safety,' when I am trusting the Lord?...'Law and order have collapsed,' we are told. 'What can the righteous do but flee?' But the Lord i still in his holy temple; he still rules from heaven."
In all situations, however bleak, God is on his throne!
The Proverb for today says, "Young man, do not resent it when God chastens and corrects you, for his punishment is proof of his love. Just as a father punishes a son he delights in to make him better, so the Lord corrects you." Again, too often we look at difficulties as punishment for the sake of punishment. We must look at it as God's way of bringing us into alignment.
Jacob wasn't being "punished" for being a deceiver, he was experiencing an opportunity to be brought into alignment. He was experiencing the re-alignment of his character.
The principle of Empowered through Biblical Training is discipline. We must bring ourselves into alignment of the word to experience the fullness of the promise God has for us.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
1.4.11 "How Many Days to the Rainbow?"
"How Many Days to the Rainbow?"
Genesis 8:1-10:32
Matthew 4:12-25
Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 1:20-23
Noah was a pleasure to the Lord (Gen 6:8). He did everything he could to try to conduct his affairs according to God's will. We know his story. We decorate Sunday School rooms with it. I love the pictures of the cute little animals and everything.
When it comes right down to it, the story isn't as romantic as we may picture it. "Noah, I'm going to destroy the earth. I want you to build an ark." I don't know if you've ever heard Bill Cosby's telling of the story, but here's his rendition of Noah's response: "Right... What's an ark?"
I was struck by the "numbers" this morning. My math isn't totally accurate, but based on some of the numbers in the Living Bible, look at this:
It could have taken 100-120 years to build the ark (36,500-43,800 days) (Gen.5:32;6:3;7:10)
7 days on the ark before it rains
40 days of rain
110 days of floating
40 days on Mount Ararat before sending out the dove
7 days before sending it out the second time
7 days before the third time when it doesn't come back
29 days before Noah looks again & sees it's dried up.
56 days before God says, "You may all go out." (I got humor out of Gen. 8:18 "So the boat was soon empty." Ya think?)
Would you like Noah's job? Would you like to go through what he had to? Would you have liked 296 days on a boat w/ animals? It wasn't pretty.
Noah did not know what was to come. He only knew what God had told him to do. His righteousness saved his family. (It doesn't say whether or not his righteousness kept them from complaining to him.)
What's the point?
So many time we sense the call of God. He gives us direction. We move in obedience, but when the results aren't there the way we expected, or it takes longer, or it's been 200 days in a stinky boat, we begin to think "Wait a minute! I'm here because I'm in obedience! This should be easy!"
One of the most amazing numbers in all of this is the 56 days between Noah seeing the land has dried up and God saying "you may all go out". I picture Noah's family lined up at the door looking at him wondering why we're not leaving. "It smells in here!"
Noah was intimately tied to the will of God. He knew his voice. He didn't move until he heard it.
Genesis 8:1 says, "God didn't forget about Noah and all the animals in the boat!" in verse 20-21, Noah sacrifices to the Lord, "And Jehovah was pleased with the sacrifice and said to himself, 'I will never do it again..'" in 9:13 he says, "I have placed my rainbow in the clouds as a sign of my promise until the end of time, to you and to all the earth."
So many times, we want the rainbow. We want to get to the goal. While the Lord has placed in our nature the desire to acheive, we must be sure to remember the point is not in getting to the goal, the point is in being faithful throughout the process. It may take what seems like forever. It may smell. But, we must know the voice of the one who has called us, and we must remain faithful.
As smelly as our boat may be, in light of eternity, it's but a moment. When we are "Driven by Eternity" we know that the rainbow we seek is not necessarily the rainbow the world can see. Our success is on a different scale. Our pursuit must be obedience.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Genesis 8:1-10:32
Matthew 4:12-25
Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 1:20-23
Noah was a pleasure to the Lord (Gen 6:8). He did everything he could to try to conduct his affairs according to God's will. We know his story. We decorate Sunday School rooms with it. I love the pictures of the cute little animals and everything.
When it comes right down to it, the story isn't as romantic as we may picture it. "Noah, I'm going to destroy the earth. I want you to build an ark." I don't know if you've ever heard Bill Cosby's telling of the story, but here's his rendition of Noah's response: "Right... What's an ark?"
I was struck by the "numbers" this morning. My math isn't totally accurate, but based on some of the numbers in the Living Bible, look at this:
It could have taken 100-120 years to build the ark (36,500-43,800 days) (Gen.5:32;6:3;7:10)
7 days on the ark before it rains
40 days of rain
110 days of floating
40 days on Mount Ararat before sending out the dove
7 days before sending it out the second time
7 days before the third time when it doesn't come back
29 days before Noah looks again & sees it's dried up.
56 days before God says, "You may all go out." (I got humor out of Gen. 8:18 "So the boat was soon empty." Ya think?)
Would you like Noah's job? Would you like to go through what he had to? Would you have liked 296 days on a boat w/ animals? It wasn't pretty.
Noah did not know what was to come. He only knew what God had told him to do. His righteousness saved his family. (It doesn't say whether or not his righteousness kept them from complaining to him.)
What's the point?
So many time we sense the call of God. He gives us direction. We move in obedience, but when the results aren't there the way we expected, or it takes longer, or it's been 200 days in a stinky boat, we begin to think "Wait a minute! I'm here because I'm in obedience! This should be easy!"
One of the most amazing numbers in all of this is the 56 days between Noah seeing the land has dried up and God saying "you may all go out". I picture Noah's family lined up at the door looking at him wondering why we're not leaving. "It smells in here!"
Noah was intimately tied to the will of God. He knew his voice. He didn't move until he heard it.
Genesis 8:1 says, "God didn't forget about Noah and all the animals in the boat!" in verse 20-21, Noah sacrifices to the Lord, "And Jehovah was pleased with the sacrifice and said to himself, 'I will never do it again..'" in 9:13 he says, "I have placed my rainbow in the clouds as a sign of my promise until the end of time, to you and to all the earth."
So many times, we want the rainbow. We want to get to the goal. While the Lord has placed in our nature the desire to acheive, we must be sure to remember the point is not in getting to the goal, the point is in being faithful throughout the process. It may take what seems like forever. It may smell. But, we must know the voice of the one who has called us, and we must remain faithful.
As smelly as our boat may be, in light of eternity, it's but a moment. When we are "Driven by Eternity" we know that the rainbow we seek is not necessarily the rainbow the world can see. Our success is on a different scale. Our pursuit must be obedience.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, April 23, 2010
4.23.10 "The Deal is Off!"
"The Deal is Off!"
Judges 1:1-2:9
Luke 21:29-22:13
Psalm 90:1-91:16
Proverbs 13:24-25
"One day the Angel of the Lord arrived... and announced to the people of Israel, 'I brought you out of Egypt into this land which I promised to you ancestors, and I said that I would never break my covenant with you, if you, on your part, would make no peace treaties with the people living in this land; I told you to destroy their heathen altars. Why have you not obeyed? And now since you have broken the contract, it is no longer in effect, and I no longer promise to destroy the nations living in your land; rather, they shall be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.'" (Jud 2:1-3)
What a sad portion of scripture. God gave such tremendous promise to the people. He delivered them from slavery. He performed awesome miracles. He equipped them to walk in obedience. He gave them all they needed.
Yet they didn't follow through.
It sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Jesus warns us of the same thing.
"Watch out! Don't let my sudden coming catch you unawares; don't let me find you living in careless ease, carousing and drinking, and occupied with the problems of this life, like all the rest of the world. Keep a constant watch. And pray that if possible you may arrive in my presence without having to experience these horrors." (Luke 21:34-36)
We serve a God of promise. His faithfulness is unwavering. He will do what he has promised he will do. We have to remember, however, that we must fulfill our end of the deal!
So many times we flirt with partial obedience. We don't completely destroy the "Canaanites" of our old life. We don't get rid of the sin that's around us. We fall into the trap of delayed obedience.
God only asks one thing of us: Obey.
Why is that so hard? Why can't we stick to his word? Can you imagine what the Promised Land would have been like if the Israelites would have obeyed him fully? Can you imagine what life would be like if the people of God would walk in radical, unwavering obedience?
What is the one thing God is telling you right now to obey him in that you are delaying? We need to realize that God's commands are tied to promise. We need to live up to our end of the bargain. The amazing thing is that it's not even like we have to do any work. He gives the strength, He gives the victory. We just obey.
Where we get into trouble is when we pursue comfort. Comfort is a death trap in the life of a believer. Comfort leads to compromise & complacency. Those are deal breakers in the promise of God.
We need to stay the course & live in radical obedience. We need to Live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Judges 1:1-2:9
Luke 21:29-22:13
Psalm 90:1-91:16
Proverbs 13:24-25
"One day the Angel of the Lord arrived... and announced to the people of Israel, 'I brought you out of Egypt into this land which I promised to you ancestors, and I said that I would never break my covenant with you, if you, on your part, would make no peace treaties with the people living in this land; I told you to destroy their heathen altars. Why have you not obeyed? And now since you have broken the contract, it is no longer in effect, and I no longer promise to destroy the nations living in your land; rather, they shall be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.'" (Jud 2:1-3)
What a sad portion of scripture. God gave such tremendous promise to the people. He delivered them from slavery. He performed awesome miracles. He equipped them to walk in obedience. He gave them all they needed.
Yet they didn't follow through.
It sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Jesus warns us of the same thing.
"Watch out! Don't let my sudden coming catch you unawares; don't let me find you living in careless ease, carousing and drinking, and occupied with the problems of this life, like all the rest of the world. Keep a constant watch. And pray that if possible you may arrive in my presence without having to experience these horrors." (Luke 21:34-36)
We serve a God of promise. His faithfulness is unwavering. He will do what he has promised he will do. We have to remember, however, that we must fulfill our end of the deal!
So many times we flirt with partial obedience. We don't completely destroy the "Canaanites" of our old life. We don't get rid of the sin that's around us. We fall into the trap of delayed obedience.
God only asks one thing of us: Obey.
Why is that so hard? Why can't we stick to his word? Can you imagine what the Promised Land would have been like if the Israelites would have obeyed him fully? Can you imagine what life would be like if the people of God would walk in radical, unwavering obedience?
What is the one thing God is telling you right now to obey him in that you are delaying? We need to realize that God's commands are tied to promise. We need to live up to our end of the bargain. The amazing thing is that it's not even like we have to do any work. He gives the strength, He gives the victory. We just obey.
Where we get into trouble is when we pursue comfort. Comfort is a death trap in the life of a believer. Comfort leads to compromise & complacency. Those are deal breakers in the promise of God.
We need to stay the course & live in radical obedience. We need to Live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
4.20.10 "All you Need to Know"
"All you Need to Know"
Joshua 21:1-22:20
Luke 20:1-16
Psalm 89:1-13
Proverbs 13:15-16
"Be sure to continue to obey all the commandments Moses gave you. Love the Lord and follow his plan for your lives. Cling to him and serve him enthusiastically." Joshua 22:5
These words of Joshua, are about all we need to know for life.
"Be sure to continue..." The context of this statement of Joshua is that the Promised Land has been conquered. He is speaking to the tribes of Reuben, Gad & Manasseh who have just spent years aiding the other tribes and are now crossing back over Jordan to return to their land. In this context, Joshua is reminding them that every blessing they have experienced is a result of their obedience. One of the dangers of blessing is that we can be tempted to relax. We get casual, and can begin to compromise. It's urgent that we always keep the intensity to walk in obedience.
"... obey all the commandments Moses gave you." It is so important that we know God's word. I don't know if you've ever played a board game w/o reading the directions, but it is frustrating. You make up the rules as you go. You often find out you missed the point. The same is true with life. We need to know God's plan and his path. This empowers us to live a victorious life.
"Love the Lord..." We know that Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments", so we need to make sure to stay true to that. Also, to truly love him, he needs to be a part of our thought process constantly. I love my wife. I make my plans in accordance with her wishes. I try to be with her as much as I can. I love to be with her. If we love the Lord, we will keep our thoughts on him. We will arrange our lives in accordance with his desires and his plans.
"... follow his plan for your lives." God has a plan for us. Sometimes I fear that we let days slip away into the mundane, not realizing that there is a plan and there is purpose. When we live according to the plan, we constrain ourselves to excellence, and we fear compromise. We need to discover his plan and pursue it.
"Cling to him and serve him enthusiastically." We are not supposed to live the boring Christian life. God has great things in store for us. When we live in radical obedience, we cling to him with passion. There is excitement. There is life. Serve God with intensity.
Take this verse to heart today!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Joshua 21:1-22:20
Luke 20:1-16
Psalm 89:1-13
Proverbs 13:15-16
"Be sure to continue to obey all the commandments Moses gave you. Love the Lord and follow his plan for your lives. Cling to him and serve him enthusiastically." Joshua 22:5
These words of Joshua, are about all we need to know for life.
"Be sure to continue..." The context of this statement of Joshua is that the Promised Land has been conquered. He is speaking to the tribes of Reuben, Gad & Manasseh who have just spent years aiding the other tribes and are now crossing back over Jordan to return to their land. In this context, Joshua is reminding them that every blessing they have experienced is a result of their obedience. One of the dangers of blessing is that we can be tempted to relax. We get casual, and can begin to compromise. It's urgent that we always keep the intensity to walk in obedience.
"... obey all the commandments Moses gave you." It is so important that we know God's word. I don't know if you've ever played a board game w/o reading the directions, but it is frustrating. You make up the rules as you go. You often find out you missed the point. The same is true with life. We need to know God's plan and his path. This empowers us to live a victorious life.
"Love the Lord..." We know that Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments", so we need to make sure to stay true to that. Also, to truly love him, he needs to be a part of our thought process constantly. I love my wife. I make my plans in accordance with her wishes. I try to be with her as much as I can. I love to be with her. If we love the Lord, we will keep our thoughts on him. We will arrange our lives in accordance with his desires and his plans.
"... follow his plan for your lives." God has a plan for us. Sometimes I fear that we let days slip away into the mundane, not realizing that there is a plan and there is purpose. When we live according to the plan, we constrain ourselves to excellence, and we fear compromise. We need to discover his plan and pursue it.
"Cling to him and serve him enthusiastically." We are not supposed to live the boring Christian life. God has great things in store for us. When we live in radical obedience, we cling to him with passion. There is excitement. There is life. Serve God with intensity.
Take this verse to heart today!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, February 12, 2010
2.12.10 "Deal or No Deal"
"Deal or No Deal"
Exodus 34:1-35:9
Matthew 27:15-31
Psalm 33:12-22
Proverbs 9:1-6
"Deal, or No Deal?" When we were kids it was a matter of negotiating for everything from candy to toys. The basic rule is that you have to decide if what you want is worth giving something up for. It's the name of a game show that drives me nuts. I'm not sure which is worse. the people guessing which box the money is in, or the millions of people watching someone guess which box the money is in... I think I'm on the tail end of a generation that remembers Monte Hall & "Door number 1..." That was also about determining if it was worth giving up what you had for what you couldn't see. But life is more than game shows... right?
In Exodus 34 there's a great progression of events. It's impossible for us to imagine, but try to picture this. Moses is on the Mountain with the Lord. "Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; ... The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, 'Yaweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin." (Ex 34:5-7)
I think Moses' response is cool. "Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped." When we see God for who he really is, how can we do anything but worship? If you are having a hard time worshiping, you need to hone in on his nature, and seek his face. Seek his Character. Now here's the Deal:
In Exodus 34:8 Moses says to the Lord, "Please go with us..." in verse 10-11, the Lord says, "All right, this is the contract I am going to make with you. I will do miracles... all the people of Israel shall see the power of the Lord... Your part of the agreement is to obey all of my commandments;"
Deal or No Deal? Our obedience for his presence...
Is it worth it?
Is it worth it to give up the compromises? is it worth it to step out in faith as he directs?
There always seem to be things that can rise up to get in the way of our relationship with the Lord. Many times it's our selfishness. What we too often fail to realize is that selfishness separates us from Him. We remove ourselves from His presence. We break the deal.
We need to be people of obedience to experience the fullness of his glory. Psalm 33:18-22 says, "But the eyes of the Lord are watching over those who fear him, who rely upon his steady love. He will keep them from death even in times of famine! We depend upon the Lord alone to save us. Only he can help us; he protects us like a shield. No wonder we are happy in the Lord! For we are trusting him. We trust his holy name. Yes, Lord, let your constant love surround us, for our hopes are in you alone."
It sounds like a great deal to me!
Trade what we can see for what is to come! Take the DEAL!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Exodus 34:1-35:9
Matthew 27:15-31
Psalm 33:12-22
Proverbs 9:1-6
"Deal, or No Deal?" When we were kids it was a matter of negotiating for everything from candy to toys. The basic rule is that you have to decide if what you want is worth giving something up for. It's the name of a game show that drives me nuts. I'm not sure which is worse. the people guessing which box the money is in, or the millions of people watching someone guess which box the money is in... I think I'm on the tail end of a generation that remembers Monte Hall & "Door number 1..." That was also about determining if it was worth giving up what you had for what you couldn't see. But life is more than game shows... right?
In Exodus 34 there's a great progression of events. It's impossible for us to imagine, but try to picture this. Moses is on the Mountain with the Lord. "Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; ... The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, 'Yaweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin." (Ex 34:5-7)
I think Moses' response is cool. "Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped." When we see God for who he really is, how can we do anything but worship? If you are having a hard time worshiping, you need to hone in on his nature, and seek his face. Seek his Character. Now here's the Deal:
In Exodus 34:8 Moses says to the Lord, "Please go with us..." in verse 10-11, the Lord says, "All right, this is the contract I am going to make with you. I will do miracles... all the people of Israel shall see the power of the Lord... Your part of the agreement is to obey all of my commandments;"
Deal or No Deal? Our obedience for his presence...
Is it worth it?
Is it worth it to give up the compromises? is it worth it to step out in faith as he directs?
There always seem to be things that can rise up to get in the way of our relationship with the Lord. Many times it's our selfishness. What we too often fail to realize is that selfishness separates us from Him. We remove ourselves from His presence. We break the deal.
We need to be people of obedience to experience the fullness of his glory. Psalm 33:18-22 says, "But the eyes of the Lord are watching over those who fear him, who rely upon his steady love. He will keep them from death even in times of famine! We depend upon the Lord alone to save us. Only he can help us; he protects us like a shield. No wonder we are happy in the Lord! For we are trusting him. We trust his holy name. Yes, Lord, let your constant love surround us, for our hopes are in you alone."
It sounds like a great deal to me!
Trade what we can see for what is to come! Take the DEAL!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
1.13.10 "The Promise and the Preparation"
"The Promise and the Preparation"
Genesis 28:1-29:35
Matthew 9:18-38
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 3:11-12
Two days ago we looked into "The Pain and the Promise". Today's theme is very similar. The stories of the descendants of Abraham are fascinating. There are so many things that seem so quirky at first glance, but to see how God lays out his plan and completes his work is very cool.
Here's a question for consideration: Does God give vision to disciplined people, or does God give vision so people develop discipline? Today's passages bring an element of that discussion to light.
Jacob, the son of Isaac & Rebekah has "stolen" the birthright of his brother Esau. Esau gave up everything for the bowl of chili. Isaac, is very upset about this, but as we read yesterday, he honors it. This "deceiver" now holds the promise of Abraham.
So now what? What should happen? Well, because of the angst between Jacob & Esau, Isaac & Rebekah feel it's in the best interest to send Jacob off to find a wife. As he's alone in the countryside, he sets up camp. He uses a stone for a pillow. The keeper of the promise alone at night with his head on a rock. Up to this point he is carrying the promise that he has received from his father. He's about experience the promise for himself.
You know the story, he has a vision of a stairway to heaven. It's incredible! "For you will have descendants as many as dust!... All the nations of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. What's more, I am with you and will protect you wherever you do, and will bring you back safely to this land; I will be with you constantly until I have finished giving you all I am promising you."
How cool is that! How would you react to that vision? What was his father's promise has now become his!
Each one of us have the call of God on our life. There is a plan. There is direction. We may be more or less aware of it. Why doesn't the promise "just happen"? What's the delay? We can learn so much from Jacob.
First, note that he must begin with an EXPERIENCE with God! This experience placed the fire of the promise deep within Jacob. He took that stone pillow and stood it on end, and called the place "Bethel". That place was never forgotten. Notice how often it is referred to throughout scripture. It means "the house of God". For him to have this experience, he was out of the routines of life. He was alone. We need to get alone with God. We need to set ourselves apart from the craziness to experience him. To see him for who he is. We need to get the fire within us.
In the next chapter (Gen. 29) Jacob encounters Rachel & falls in love. The next events may seem unrelated to the promise, but I find something very interesting. You know the story, Jacob works for Laban for 7 years for the privilege of marrying Rachel. At the end of 7 years, Laban pulls a "switcheroo" and gives him Leah. Jacob ends up working another 7 years to marry Rachel.
What's the significance of this? Notice how Jacob got the birthright. It was through deception. He has an experience with God, and now he needs to go through a time where God refines his character. What's his biggest flaw? Deception. What does Jacob go through? Being deceived.
Through this 14 year experience the Lord is bringing Jacob through a time of discipline. Now, it's our nature to think that this is a time of "punishment". Not so. Remember to "discipline" means "to bring into alignment". Jacob must discipline himself to work for 14 years to be prepared for the promise of Rachel.
What's that mean for us? We need to stop looking at daily circumstances and trials as something that is contrary to the plans God has for us. EVERY event in our life must be treated as an opportunity for God to complete his work in US. So often we get on the "victim" path and we whine about how Laban tricked us, and how we think God forgot us and how this should be easy. We miss the point. God NEEDS to refine us! Heaven forbid we go out as before and pass on to future generations the flaws in our spiritual DNA.
Remember the story of the woman to touched the hem of Jesus' garment? That's in today's reading as well. That story is famous. We talk about it all the time. Do remember the circumstances of when that happened? Jesus was on his way to do something else! A rabbi had asked for his daughter to be raised from the dead. Jesus could have just said from where he was, "go home, she's alive", but he didn't. For "some reason" there was travel involved. There was a path. And now a woman sick for years is healed.
Some time ago, a friend of mine was in a new job. He knew it was for a plan... a purpose. Having only been there a couple days, he lead a drug addict to the Lord. It's AMAZING what can happen "on the way" if we get the big picture of what God is trying to accomplish.
Too often we get the advice that David gets in Psalm 11. Friends (or even the enemy) can tell us this is to hard! This is hopeless. We need to have the response of David. "How dare you tell me, 'Flee to the mountains for safety,' when I am trusting the Lord?...'Law and order have collapsed,' we are told. 'What can the righteous do but flee?' But the Lord i still in his holy temple; he still rules from heaven."
In all situations, however bleak, God is on his throne!
The Proverb for today says, "Young man, do not resent it when God chastens and corrects you, for his punishment is proof of his love. Just as a father punishes a son he delights in to make him better, so the Lord corrects you." Again, too often we look at difficulties as punishment for the sake of punishment. We must look at it as God's way of bringing us into alignment.
Jacob wasn't being "punished" for being a deceiver, he was experiencing an opportunity to be brought into alignment. He was experiencing the re-alignment of his character.
The principle of Empowered through Biblical Training is discipline. We must bring ourselves into alignment of the word to experience the fullness of the promise God has for us.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Genesis 28:1-29:35
Matthew 9:18-38
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 3:11-12
Two days ago we looked into "The Pain and the Promise". Today's theme is very similar. The stories of the descendants of Abraham are fascinating. There are so many things that seem so quirky at first glance, but to see how God lays out his plan and completes his work is very cool.
Here's a question for consideration: Does God give vision to disciplined people, or does God give vision so people develop discipline? Today's passages bring an element of that discussion to light.
Jacob, the son of Isaac & Rebekah has "stolen" the birthright of his brother Esau. Esau gave up everything for the bowl of chili. Isaac, is very upset about this, but as we read yesterday, he honors it. This "deceiver" now holds the promise of Abraham.
So now what? What should happen? Well, because of the angst between Jacob & Esau, Isaac & Rebekah feel it's in the best interest to send Jacob off to find a wife. As he's alone in the countryside, he sets up camp. He uses a stone for a pillow. The keeper of the promise alone at night with his head on a rock. Up to this point he is carrying the promise that he has received from his father. He's about experience the promise for himself.
You know the story, he has a vision of a stairway to heaven. It's incredible! "For you will have descendants as many as dust!... All the nations of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. What's more, I am with you and will protect you wherever you do, and will bring you back safely to this land; I will be with you constantly until I have finished giving you all I am promising you."
How cool is that! How would you react to that vision? What was his father's promise has now become his!
Each one of us have the call of God on our life. There is a plan. There is direction. We may be more or less aware of it. Why doesn't the promise "just happen"? What's the delay? We can learn so much from Jacob.
First, note that he must begin with an EXPERIENCE with God! This experience placed the fire of the promise deep within Jacob. He took that stone pillow and stood it on end, and called the place "Bethel". That place was never forgotten. Notice how often it is referred to throughout scripture. It means "the house of God". For him to have this experience, he was out of the routines of life. He was alone. We need to get alone with God. We need to set ourselves apart from the craziness to experience him. To see him for who he is. We need to get the fire within us.
In the next chapter (Gen. 29) Jacob encounters Rachel & falls in love. The next events may seem unrelated to the promise, but I find something very interesting. You know the story, Jacob works for Laban for 7 years for the privilege of marrying Rachel. At the end of 7 years, Laban pulls a "switcheroo" and gives him Leah. Jacob ends up working another 7 years to marry Rachel.
What's the significance of this? Notice how Jacob got the birthright. It was through deception. He has an experience with God, and now he needs to go through a time where God refines his character. What's his biggest flaw? Deception. What does Jacob go through? Being deceived.
Through this 14 year experience the Lord is bringing Jacob through a time of discipline. Now, it's our nature to think that this is a time of "punishment". Not so. Remember to "discipline" means "to bring into alignment". Jacob must discipline himself to work for 14 years to be prepared for the promise of Rachel.
What's that mean for us? We need to stop looking at daily circumstances and trials as something that is contrary to the plans God has for us. EVERY event in our life must be treated as an opportunity for God to complete his work in US. So often we get on the "victim" path and we whine about how Laban tricked us, and how we think God forgot us and how this should be easy. We miss the point. God NEEDS to refine us! Heaven forbid we go out as before and pass on to future generations the flaws in our spiritual DNA.
Remember the story of the woman to touched the hem of Jesus' garment? That's in today's reading as well. That story is famous. We talk about it all the time. Do remember the circumstances of when that happened? Jesus was on his way to do something else! A rabbi had asked for his daughter to be raised from the dead. Jesus could have just said from where he was, "go home, she's alive", but he didn't. For "some reason" there was travel involved. There was a path. And now a woman sick for years is healed.
Some time ago, a friend of mine was in a new job. He knew it was for a plan... a purpose. Having only been there a couple days, he lead a drug addict to the Lord. It's AMAZING what can happen "on the way" if we get the big picture of what God is trying to accomplish.
Too often we get the advice that David gets in Psalm 11. Friends (or even the enemy) can tell us this is to hard! This is hopeless. We need to have the response of David. "How dare you tell me, 'Flee to the mountains for safety,' when I am trusting the Lord?...'Law and order have collapsed,' we are told. 'What can the righteous do but flee?' But the Lord i still in his holy temple; he still rules from heaven."
In all situations, however bleak, God is on his throne!
The Proverb for today says, "Young man, do not resent it when God chastens and corrects you, for his punishment is proof of his love. Just as a father punishes a son he delights in to make him better, so the Lord corrects you." Again, too often we look at difficulties as punishment for the sake of punishment. We must look at it as God's way of bringing us into alignment.
Jacob wasn't being "punished" for being a deceiver, he was experiencing an opportunity to be brought into alignment. He was experiencing the re-alignment of his character.
The principle of Empowered through Biblical Training is discipline. We must bring ourselves into alignment of the word to experience the fullness of the promise God has for us.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Monday, January 11, 2010
1.11.10 "The Pain and the Promise"
"The Pain and the Promise"
Genesis 24:52-26:16
Matthew 8:18-34
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 3:7-8
What is the most precious "human" event in life? I would think that most would answer: the birth of a child. What is the most painful "human" event in life? I would think that most [women, at least!] would answer: the birth of a child.
"Isaac pleaded with Jehovah to give Rebekah a child, for even after many years of marriage she had no children. Then at last she became pregnant. And it seemed as though children were fighting each other inside her! "I can't endure this," she exclaimed, so she asked the Lord about it."
As you look throughout scripture there seems to a connection to pain and promise. It seems that the greater the pain, the greater the promise. Abraham is promised that he will be the father of many nations. Look at the pain of barrenness that Sarah has for so many years. This is repeated in Rebekah.
God's people are in Egypt for 400 years. They are led out by Moses toward the promised land, but there's 40 years of desert.
A sacrifice is necessary to pay the price for our sins, so God gave his only Son who suffered and died... the intense pain bringing so great a promise.
One may think "well that's kind of sadistic. To receive the promise you must have pain?" As a slave to comfort the whole concept of pain can be easily misunderstood. The reality is that for us to be trusted with the promise, we must experience being refined. The refining process is rarely comfortable. In fact, comfort works against refining. The "wilderness" events in our lives are there for the purpose of securing Godly character in difficult times. Remember James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
What is the application of this message? There are marriages that are going through rocky times. God is there. He sees it. It's worth it to stick it out. The greater the pain the greater the promise. The marriage that weathers the storm comes together with intense strength and promise. So many can't see this. They feel like "Hey, I want the Promised Land, not the wilderness!" And their heart begins to run away. What a tragedy to realize that running from the pain is running from the promise.
This applies to work situations. Some individuals live a life as a "victim" to their surroundings. Because of a difficult boss, or unfair treatment they look for another job based on the uncomfortable circumstances rather than on the voice of God. It may very well be that they are in that position for the very purpose of developing Godly character.
What happens when people "bail" from the painful situations? More often than not, the test is repeated. Remember that Jesus "for the joy set before him endured the cross." Such great pain, such enduring promise.
God is not a God of pain for the sake of pain. He created us for having an intimate relationship with Him. If you've ever gone through difficulty or tragedy, or trial, you know that these are the times that you learn to trust God as never before. This is where you rely on HIS strength, and not your own.
Whatever pain you are going through right now, understand that you are in the "gestation period" of promise. God is faithful to His Word. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will carry you if you trust Him.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Genesis 24:52-26:16
Matthew 8:18-34
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 3:7-8
What is the most precious "human" event in life? I would think that most would answer: the birth of a child. What is the most painful "human" event in life? I would think that most [women, at least!] would answer: the birth of a child.
"Isaac pleaded with Jehovah to give Rebekah a child, for even after many years of marriage she had no children. Then at last she became pregnant. And it seemed as though children were fighting each other inside her! "I can't endure this," she exclaimed, so she asked the Lord about it."
As you look throughout scripture there seems to a connection to pain and promise. It seems that the greater the pain, the greater the promise. Abraham is promised that he will be the father of many nations. Look at the pain of barrenness that Sarah has for so many years. This is repeated in Rebekah.
God's people are in Egypt for 400 years. They are led out by Moses toward the promised land, but there's 40 years of desert.
A sacrifice is necessary to pay the price for our sins, so God gave his only Son who suffered and died... the intense pain bringing so great a promise.
One may think "well that's kind of sadistic. To receive the promise you must have pain?" As a slave to comfort the whole concept of pain can be easily misunderstood. The reality is that for us to be trusted with the promise, we must experience being refined. The refining process is rarely comfortable. In fact, comfort works against refining. The "wilderness" events in our lives are there for the purpose of securing Godly character in difficult times. Remember James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
What is the application of this message? There are marriages that are going through rocky times. God is there. He sees it. It's worth it to stick it out. The greater the pain the greater the promise. The marriage that weathers the storm comes together with intense strength and promise. So many can't see this. They feel like "Hey, I want the Promised Land, not the wilderness!" And their heart begins to run away. What a tragedy to realize that running from the pain is running from the promise.
This applies to work situations. Some individuals live a life as a "victim" to their surroundings. Because of a difficult boss, or unfair treatment they look for another job based on the uncomfortable circumstances rather than on the voice of God. It may very well be that they are in that position for the very purpose of developing Godly character.
What happens when people "bail" from the painful situations? More often than not, the test is repeated. Remember that Jesus "for the joy set before him endured the cross." Such great pain, such enduring promise.
God is not a God of pain for the sake of pain. He created us for having an intimate relationship with Him. If you've ever gone through difficulty or tragedy, or trial, you know that these are the times that you learn to trust God as never before. This is where you rely on HIS strength, and not your own.
Whatever pain you are going through right now, understand that you are in the "gestation period" of promise. God is faithful to His Word. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will carry you if you trust Him.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, January 7, 2010
1.7.10 "What are You Laughing At?"
"What are You Laughing At?"
Genesis 16:1-18:19
Matthew 6:1-24
Psalm 7:1-17
Proverbs 2:1-5
God has a plan for your life. On any given day, we are more or less aware of the fact that he has a plan, not to mention our understanding or lack thereof of the specifics of it. Why is that? Why don't we see more of God's plan? Is it because of Him, or because of us?
The story of Abraham & Sarah is a "great read". I would love to have met these two. They seem to be very interesting people. At the beginning of Chapter 16 of Genesis, their names are still Abram & Sarai. In chapter 17 their names are changed to Abraham (meaning "father of nations") and Sarah (Meaning "princess")
Abram knows God has given him a promise. When he was 75 years old, God told Abram to "go to the land I will guide you to. If you do, I will cause you to become the father of a great nation; I will bless you and make your name famous." (Genesis 12:1-2)
Abram is obedient. Sarai also knows the plan. She realizes though, that the clock is ticking. "We're not getting any younger Abram..." (not a verse, but I can hear it!) When Abram is 86 Sarai realizes that God must need a little help. (If this were the movie, the music would get more ominous here.)
Sarai's plan is this: "Since the Lord has given me no children... you may sleep with my servant girl, and her children shall be mine" And Abram agreed. When Hagar (the servant girl) realized she was pregnant, "she became very proud and arrogant toward her mistress Sarai. Then Sarai said to Abram, 'It's all your fault. For now this servant girl of mine despises me, though I myself gave her the privilege of being your wife. May the Lord judge you for doing this to me!'" (Can you see why the Lord changed her name to Princess???)
Sarai and Abram took God's plan into their own hands. They manipulated it. They tried to make it THEIR plan. Remember in yesterday's reading the warning about getting your own way? Well, read the account of Hagar in Gen.16:7-16. It's the birth of the Islamic nation... You can see the fruit of Ishmael motivating so much of the world today.
In chapter 17, God reiterates the promise in terms of a contract with Abraham & Sarah. He says, "'It is a contract that I shall be your God and the God of your posterity. And I will give all this land of Canaan to you and them, forever. And I will be your God. Your part of the contract,' God told him, 'is to obey its terms. You personally and all your posterity have this continual responsibility..." Gen. 17:8-10
That applies to our lives. Our job is simply to obey his direction whatever that may be. We want to know SO BAD what he has in store... what his plan is. The danger is, if we know too much, we too often take HIS plan into OUR hands and MESS IT UP. We try to manipulate God's will. In Gen 18:17 God says, "Should I hide my plan from Abraham?"
Now Abraham is 99 years old, and again the Lord reiterates the promise. When the Lord speaks to them this time, both Abraham and Sarah laugh (Gen.17:17; 18:12)
"Then God said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say 'Can an old woman like me have a baby?' Is anything too hard for God?" (18:13-14)
So many times we hope for the promise that seems so impossible. We almost laugh because it can't be done. "Can God heal my marriage?" "Can God save my loved one?" What are you laughing at? What seems impossible?
Our part of the deal is to discipline ourselves to obedience. He is a faithful God. We need to position ourselves to receive from Him. We need to constrain ourselves to the center of His will as he reveals it to us, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. We have to guard from beginning to manipulate the Plan into what WE think it should be. All we do is tie his hands from making HIS name great!
Be obedient today!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Genesis 16:1-18:19
Matthew 6:1-24
Psalm 7:1-17
Proverbs 2:1-5
God has a plan for your life. On any given day, we are more or less aware of the fact that he has a plan, not to mention our understanding or lack thereof of the specifics of it. Why is that? Why don't we see more of God's plan? Is it because of Him, or because of us?
The story of Abraham & Sarah is a "great read". I would love to have met these two. They seem to be very interesting people. At the beginning of Chapter 16 of Genesis, their names are still Abram & Sarai. In chapter 17 their names are changed to Abraham (meaning "father of nations") and Sarah (Meaning "princess")
Abram knows God has given him a promise. When he was 75 years old, God told Abram to "go to the land I will guide you to. If you do, I will cause you to become the father of a great nation; I will bless you and make your name famous." (Genesis 12:1-2)
Abram is obedient. Sarai also knows the plan. She realizes though, that the clock is ticking. "We're not getting any younger Abram..." (not a verse, but I can hear it!) When Abram is 86 Sarai realizes that God must need a little help. (If this were the movie, the music would get more ominous here.)
Sarai's plan is this: "Since the Lord has given me no children... you may sleep with my servant girl, and her children shall be mine" And Abram agreed. When Hagar (the servant girl) realized she was pregnant, "she became very proud and arrogant toward her mistress Sarai. Then Sarai said to Abram, 'It's all your fault. For now this servant girl of mine despises me, though I myself gave her the privilege of being your wife. May the Lord judge you for doing this to me!'" (Can you see why the Lord changed her name to Princess???)
Sarai and Abram took God's plan into their own hands. They manipulated it. They tried to make it THEIR plan. Remember in yesterday's reading the warning about getting your own way? Well, read the account of Hagar in Gen.16:7-16. It's the birth of the Islamic nation... You can see the fruit of Ishmael motivating so much of the world today.
In chapter 17, God reiterates the promise in terms of a contract with Abraham & Sarah. He says, "'It is a contract that I shall be your God and the God of your posterity. And I will give all this land of Canaan to you and them, forever. And I will be your God. Your part of the contract,' God told him, 'is to obey its terms. You personally and all your posterity have this continual responsibility..." Gen. 17:8-10
That applies to our lives. Our job is simply to obey his direction whatever that may be. We want to know SO BAD what he has in store... what his plan is. The danger is, if we know too much, we too often take HIS plan into OUR hands and MESS IT UP. We try to manipulate God's will. In Gen 18:17 God says, "Should I hide my plan from Abraham?"
Now Abraham is 99 years old, and again the Lord reiterates the promise. When the Lord speaks to them this time, both Abraham and Sarah laugh (Gen.17:17; 18:12)
"Then God said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say 'Can an old woman like me have a baby?' Is anything too hard for God?" (18:13-14)
So many times we hope for the promise that seems so impossible. We almost laugh because it can't be done. "Can God heal my marriage?" "Can God save my loved one?" What are you laughing at? What seems impossible?
Our part of the deal is to discipline ourselves to obedience. He is a faithful God. We need to position ourselves to receive from Him. We need to constrain ourselves to the center of His will as he reveals it to us, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. We have to guard from beginning to manipulate the Plan into what WE think it should be. All we do is tie his hands from making HIS name great!
Be obedient today!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Monday, September 14, 2009
9.14.9 "The Season of Preparation"
"The Season of Preparation"
Isaiah 15:1-18:7
Galatians 1:1-24
Psalm 58:1-11
Proverbs 23:12
God has big plans for your life! Each of us has varying levels of understanding of that statement. We're all aware of Jer. 29:11, and know that God wants to do a great work in us and through us. So, now what?
There have been times of my life where I've been waiting for God's plans to "happen" to me. I get a big dream or vision, and then sit around and wait for it to occur. I wouldn't really recommend that as a course of action. At least not if you want to see the dream come about. Rarely, if ever, does God complete his work in us as we sit around and wait. One of my wife's middle school teachers always told her: "Nothing of value is ever obtained in an atmosphere of comfort." In other words, "No DREAM is free!"
In this opening chapter of Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul addresses the purity of the message of Jesus Christ. He's recounting to them that the plan of salvation is, and needs to remain unaltered. It is through Jesus Christ alone.
In verse 13-14, Paul is talking about his old life & how he tried so hard to be religious and was persecuting Christians. In verse 15 he says, "But then something happened! For even before I was born God had chosen me to be his, and called, me - what kindness and grace - to reveal his Son within me so that I could go to the Gentiles and show them the Good News about Jesus." You know the story - Damascus, light, etc.
You can remember from reading in Acts what happened next. He got hooked up with Ananias, etc. We probably think that after such a dramatic conversion, Paul was thrust right into his dream - This "calling" that was ordained from before he was born. Not so.
"When all this happened to me I didn't go at once and talk it over with anyone else; I didn't go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. No, I went away into the deserts of Arabia, and then came back to the city of Damascus. It was not until three years later that I finally went to Jerusalem for a visit with Peter, and stayed there with him for fifteen days." (Gal 1:16-18) In verse 22 he says, "And still the Christians in Judea didn't even know what I looked like."
When God moves on our hearts, and gives us a glimpse of His plan, we wanna get moving! We want to jump into victory and change the world. Right now. Why not? It's from God, right? Let's go! What are we waiting for?
It's easy to forget that God needs to bring us through a season of preparation. This is a season of becoming Empowered Through Biblical Training. It may involve a desert or wilderness, but it's not without purpose. It is a necessary part of the refining process. We need to understand that this is not a "holding pattern". It is a "proving ground". During these seasons of preparation, we need to be picking fruit that is necessary for the journey God has laid out for us. God needs to complete is work in you before he can complete his work through you.
When we built our house we had some major challenges. One of them was a grading problem between our neighbors driveway and our house. The slope was so intense, we were at risk of their driveway washing into our house. We had to build a huge retaining wall. It felt so good to place the last of the Four Hundred Six 75lb blocks! We were THRILLED to be done with this. It took us over 2 months to do this wall. What takes most of the time is the preparation work. It takes forever to lay down the foundation for the first course of block. We backfilled with 125 tons of stone laid down 8 inches at a time then packed down. An incredibly long process. Why? Why does the preparation take longer? My neighbors put a little 3 foot lanon stone wall in and it only took 2 days. Why the difference? It's because of the function it is to serve. Their wall isn't holding back much dirt. Mine is keeping my neighbor's driveway from washing into my house. We want it to last. We want to make sure to do it right. Because of it's purpose, it must take much longer in preparation.
Sometimes the season of preparation you are in is taking longer because of the great purpose God has created you for. He is laying a foundation that needs to be firmly established so that you wont be washed away in the storms to come. We need to understand the importance of this. During what we call "holding patterns", we too often relax, and lose our intensity for the preparation process. We don't understand that this is our chance for being Empowered Through Biblical Training and we MUST make the most of this opportunity. If we don't give it that focus, then we risk never seeing God's purpose accomplished in us or through us.
I'm not sure where you're at right now, but I do know that the discipline of getting into the Word needs to be one of your highest priorities. You may be in the "deserts of Arabia", but understand that you can't just sit on a sand dune and feel sorry for yourself cuz your dream hasn't "happened" to you. You need to prepare for what is to come, because it is coming! And you will be able to say like Paul does in Gal 1:24 "And they gave glory to God because of me."
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Isaiah 15:1-18:7
Galatians 1:1-24
Psalm 58:1-11
Proverbs 23:12
God has big plans for your life! Each of us has varying levels of understanding of that statement. We're all aware of Jer. 29:11, and know that God wants to do a great work in us and through us. So, now what?
There have been times of my life where I've been waiting for God's plans to "happen" to me. I get a big dream or vision, and then sit around and wait for it to occur. I wouldn't really recommend that as a course of action. At least not if you want to see the dream come about. Rarely, if ever, does God complete his work in us as we sit around and wait. One of my wife's middle school teachers always told her: "Nothing of value is ever obtained in an atmosphere of comfort." In other words, "No DREAM is free!"
In this opening chapter of Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul addresses the purity of the message of Jesus Christ. He's recounting to them that the plan of salvation is, and needs to remain unaltered. It is through Jesus Christ alone.
In verse 13-14, Paul is talking about his old life & how he tried so hard to be religious and was persecuting Christians. In verse 15 he says, "But then something happened! For even before I was born God had chosen me to be his, and called, me - what kindness and grace - to reveal his Son within me so that I could go to the Gentiles and show them the Good News about Jesus." You know the story - Damascus, light, etc.
You can remember from reading in Acts what happened next. He got hooked up with Ananias, etc. We probably think that after such a dramatic conversion, Paul was thrust right into his dream - This "calling" that was ordained from before he was born. Not so.
"When all this happened to me I didn't go at once and talk it over with anyone else; I didn't go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. No, I went away into the deserts of Arabia, and then came back to the city of Damascus. It was not until three years later that I finally went to Jerusalem for a visit with Peter, and stayed there with him for fifteen days." (Gal 1:16-18) In verse 22 he says, "And still the Christians in Judea didn't even know what I looked like."
When God moves on our hearts, and gives us a glimpse of His plan, we wanna get moving! We want to jump into victory and change the world. Right now. Why not? It's from God, right? Let's go! What are we waiting for?
It's easy to forget that God needs to bring us through a season of preparation. This is a season of becoming Empowered Through Biblical Training. It may involve a desert or wilderness, but it's not without purpose. It is a necessary part of the refining process. We need to understand that this is not a "holding pattern". It is a "proving ground". During these seasons of preparation, we need to be picking fruit that is necessary for the journey God has laid out for us. God needs to complete is work in you before he can complete his work through you.
When we built our house we had some major challenges. One of them was a grading problem between our neighbors driveway and our house. The slope was so intense, we were at risk of their driveway washing into our house. We had to build a huge retaining wall. It felt so good to place the last of the Four Hundred Six 75lb blocks! We were THRILLED to be done with this. It took us over 2 months to do this wall. What takes most of the time is the preparation work. It takes forever to lay down the foundation for the first course of block. We backfilled with 125 tons of stone laid down 8 inches at a time then packed down. An incredibly long process. Why? Why does the preparation take longer? My neighbors put a little 3 foot lanon stone wall in and it only took 2 days. Why the difference? It's because of the function it is to serve. Their wall isn't holding back much dirt. Mine is keeping my neighbor's driveway from washing into my house. We want it to last. We want to make sure to do it right. Because of it's purpose, it must take much longer in preparation.
Sometimes the season of preparation you are in is taking longer because of the great purpose God has created you for. He is laying a foundation that needs to be firmly established so that you wont be washed away in the storms to come. We need to understand the importance of this. During what we call "holding patterns", we too often relax, and lose our intensity for the preparation process. We don't understand that this is our chance for being Empowered Through Biblical Training and we MUST make the most of this opportunity. If we don't give it that focus, then we risk never seeing God's purpose accomplished in us or through us.
I'm not sure where you're at right now, but I do know that the discipline of getting into the Word needs to be one of your highest priorities. You may be in the "deserts of Arabia", but understand that you can't just sit on a sand dune and feel sorry for yourself cuz your dream hasn't "happened" to you. You need to prepare for what is to come, because it is coming! And you will be able to say like Paul does in Gal 1:24 "And they gave glory to God because of me."
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
5.12.9 "God's Timing"
"God's Timing"
1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
John 7:1-30
Psalm 108:1-13
Proverbs 15:4
How important is it to wait for God's timing? I think patience is one of the most challenging areas of growth in the Christian life. It can be frustrating to want to do something, and yet have to wait. It can even be a greater challenge when we know it's the right thing to do, and yet God says, "wait."
We all know God has a plan for our life. He gives us big dreams. He calls us to great things. Sometimes he gives a picture of what it will be like. He places the desires within us. Here's where we get into trouble. "I know God has called me to do such and such, so now I'm going to make it happen." We then manipulate situations, and circumstances to make it happen. It's not a big deal, right? I mean it's the thing he's called us to do!
In I Samuel 13, Saul and his army are waiting to go to war with the Philistines. "When the men of israel saw the vast mass of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, thickets, coverts, among the rocks, and even in tombs and cisterns... Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and those who were with him trembled with fear at what awaited them. Samuel had told Saul earlier to wait seven days for his arrival, but when he still didn't come, and Saul's troops were rapidly slipping away, he decided to sacrifice the burnt offering and the peace offerings himself. But just as he was finishing, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and to receive his blessing, but Samuel said, 'What is this you have done?'" (I Sam. 13:6-11)
Saul makes excuses about why he went ahead with the sacrifice, but Samuel says, "'You fool!' Samuel exclaimed. 'You have disobeyed the commandment of the Lord your God. He was planning to make you and your descendants kings of Israel forever, but now your dynasty must end; for the Lord wants a man who will obey him.'" (13:13-14)
Wow! that's a pretty heavy consequence for such a "seemingly small" step of disobedience. Why is that? Let's compare this with a conversation that Jesus has with his brothers in John 7.
"But soon it was time for the Tabernacle Ceremonies, one of the annual Jewish holidays, and Jesus' brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration. 'Go where more people can see your miracles!' they scoffed. 'You can't be famous when you hide like this! If you're so great, prove it to the world!' For even his brothers didn't believe in him. Jesus replied, 'It is not the right time for me to go now. But you can go anytime and it will make no difference... You go on, and I'll come later when it is the right time.'" (John 7:2-8) Jesus did end up going a little later, but "incognito".
What is the difference between Jesus and Saul? One of them understood the importance of the right timing in doing what he was called to do. There's a bigger picture. Not only is there the right thing to do, there is a right time to do it. To do the right thing at the wrong time is doing the wrong thing.
One of the things we see by the consequence upon Saul is the HUGE importance God puts on obedience. There is always more at stake than we think. When we take short cuts, we risk EVERYTHING. Jesus knew this when he was being tempted by Satan. If we don't have a full understanding of our call and the value God places on our obedience, we will sell it for a bowl of soup without even thinking about it.
You are valuable to God. When you understand that value, you will make decisions that reflect the intensity and importance of what you are called to do. Remember when Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."? That is only true when we are walking in step with him. If we are trying to move too fast or too slow, or turn one way or another, we are pulling against his will. We are exerting a lot of fleshly effort.
We need to constrain ourselves to his will. We need to understand the precious cargo we are carrying. We have the call of God on our life. This "burden" should not be a lack of peace. It's similar to that feeling as you walk out of the hospital with your first born. That is an almost indescribable sense. Not in the fact that it's a bad feeling, but rather you feel the awesome responsibility of doing the right thing.
Let's never forget the precious cargo of the calling and the burden of obedience that we carry with us each and every day.
The essence of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is Obedience. Walk in obedience today. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
John 7:1-30
Psalm 108:1-13
Proverbs 15:4
How important is it to wait for God's timing? I think patience is one of the most challenging areas of growth in the Christian life. It can be frustrating to want to do something, and yet have to wait. It can even be a greater challenge when we know it's the right thing to do, and yet God says, "wait."
We all know God has a plan for our life. He gives us big dreams. He calls us to great things. Sometimes he gives a picture of what it will be like. He places the desires within us. Here's where we get into trouble. "I know God has called me to do such and such, so now I'm going to make it happen." We then manipulate situations, and circumstances to make it happen. It's not a big deal, right? I mean it's the thing he's called us to do!
In I Samuel 13, Saul and his army are waiting to go to war with the Philistines. "When the men of israel saw the vast mass of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, thickets, coverts, among the rocks, and even in tombs and cisterns... Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and those who were with him trembled with fear at what awaited them. Samuel had told Saul earlier to wait seven days for his arrival, but when he still didn't come, and Saul's troops were rapidly slipping away, he decided to sacrifice the burnt offering and the peace offerings himself. But just as he was finishing, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and to receive his blessing, but Samuel said, 'What is this you have done?'" (I Sam. 13:6-11)
Saul makes excuses about why he went ahead with the sacrifice, but Samuel says, "'You fool!' Samuel exclaimed. 'You have disobeyed the commandment of the Lord your God. He was planning to make you and your descendants kings of Israel forever, but now your dynasty must end; for the Lord wants a man who will obey him.'" (13:13-14)
Wow! that's a pretty heavy consequence for such a "seemingly small" step of disobedience. Why is that? Let's compare this with a conversation that Jesus has with his brothers in John 7.
"But soon it was time for the Tabernacle Ceremonies, one of the annual Jewish holidays, and Jesus' brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration. 'Go where more people can see your miracles!' they scoffed. 'You can't be famous when you hide like this! If you're so great, prove it to the world!' For even his brothers didn't believe in him. Jesus replied, 'It is not the right time for me to go now. But you can go anytime and it will make no difference... You go on, and I'll come later when it is the right time.'" (John 7:2-8) Jesus did end up going a little later, but "incognito".
What is the difference between Jesus and Saul? One of them understood the importance of the right timing in doing what he was called to do. There's a bigger picture. Not only is there the right thing to do, there is a right time to do it. To do the right thing at the wrong time is doing the wrong thing.
One of the things we see by the consequence upon Saul is the HUGE importance God puts on obedience. There is always more at stake than we think. When we take short cuts, we risk EVERYTHING. Jesus knew this when he was being tempted by Satan. If we don't have a full understanding of our call and the value God places on our obedience, we will sell it for a bowl of soup without even thinking about it.
You are valuable to God. When you understand that value, you will make decisions that reflect the intensity and importance of what you are called to do. Remember when Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."? That is only true when we are walking in step with him. If we are trying to move too fast or too slow, or turn one way or another, we are pulling against his will. We are exerting a lot of fleshly effort.
We need to constrain ourselves to his will. We need to understand the precious cargo we are carrying. We have the call of God on our life. This "burden" should not be a lack of peace. It's similar to that feeling as you walk out of the hospital with your first born. That is an almost indescribable sense. Not in the fact that it's a bad feeling, but rather you feel the awesome responsibility of doing the right thing.
Let's never forget the precious cargo of the calling and the burden of obedience that we carry with us each and every day.
The essence of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is Obedience. Walk in obedience today. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Saturday, April 11, 2009
4.11.9 "The Great Adventure"
"The Great Adventure!"
Joshua 3:1-4:24
Luke 14:7-35
Psalm 80:1-19
Proverbs 12:27-28
God has a unique plan for each one of us. Our experiences, giftings, and passions are as diverse as our fingerprints. The one thing that we all share however, is the fact that God has big plans for every one of us. There is a Promised Land of potential that he has prepared for our lives. Whether we realize it or not, the name of the Promised Land is not "Mediocrity".
Pause to take a moment to consider how close you are to the Lord right now.
Is there anything between you and your relationship with him?
Are you as close as you've ever been?
Are you planning on getting closer?
Is there anything keeping you from getting closer?
As is illustrated in the journey of the Israelites, our adventure with Christ does not stop at salvation. We don't just "get out of Egypt" so we can wander around in the wilderness of mediocrity. We have a purpose and a direction that God has laid out for us. We must pursue it.
What's it going to take to get there?
Moses has died, and Joshua is now leading the people. they are getting ready to cross the Jordan. "'You have never before been where we are going now...' Then Joshua told the people to purify themselves. 'For tomorrow,' he said, 'the Lord will do a great miracle.'" (Jos. 3:4-5)
God does not want me to spend my life in a surface relationship with him. He doesn't want me to waste time repeating tests and recycling frustrations. He wants to bring me into a powerful and purposeful relationship with him to experience the full potential of his promise. Why? Not for my benefit, but so that he can make his name great in the world around me.
What are we to do in preparation for this adventure? We must purify ourselves. Consecration is a prerequisite of the miraculous experience. We must prepare for battle. We must keep the "radio" of our spirit tuned to the voice of God. To fill our lives with worldliness and self-gratification creates a broken signal.
I received a voicemail at the church that someone had left at 2:30 in the morning. "Pastor Greg, this is (static) could you call me as soon as (static)? I (static) need to talk to you. my number is 41...(static)." He was calling from a cell phone, and the connection was unclear. I was REALLY worried and was really praying for this guy. It's not usually good news if you're getting a call at that time of day. As it turned out it wasn't a crisis, he just works 3rd shift.
But when there's sin in our life, we put static in our communication with God. We can't hear his voice clearly. We must make sure to get the good "coverage" of a sinless life.
There is a price in following Christ, but it is worth it! "And no one can be my disciple who does not carry his own cross and follow me." (Luke 14:26)
We need to be so sensitive to the Holy Spirit that we hear clear directions in the smallest of things. When we respond in faithfulness to these little things, we will KNOW the voice of God so we don't have to doubt when God directs us to say, "Be Healed!"
We need to count the cost, consecrate ourselves, and prepare to experience the miracles God has laid out for us. We need to prepare for the journey of this Great Adventure!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Joshua 3:1-4:24
Luke 14:7-35
Psalm 80:1-19
Proverbs 12:27-28
God has a unique plan for each one of us. Our experiences, giftings, and passions are as diverse as our fingerprints. The one thing that we all share however, is the fact that God has big plans for every one of us. There is a Promised Land of potential that he has prepared for our lives. Whether we realize it or not, the name of the Promised Land is not "Mediocrity".
Pause to take a moment to consider how close you are to the Lord right now.
Is there anything between you and your relationship with him?
Are you as close as you've ever been?
Are you planning on getting closer?
Is there anything keeping you from getting closer?
As is illustrated in the journey of the Israelites, our adventure with Christ does not stop at salvation. We don't just "get out of Egypt" so we can wander around in the wilderness of mediocrity. We have a purpose and a direction that God has laid out for us. We must pursue it.
What's it going to take to get there?
Moses has died, and Joshua is now leading the people. they are getting ready to cross the Jordan. "'You have never before been where we are going now...' Then Joshua told the people to purify themselves. 'For tomorrow,' he said, 'the Lord will do a great miracle.'" (Jos. 3:4-5)
God does not want me to spend my life in a surface relationship with him. He doesn't want me to waste time repeating tests and recycling frustrations. He wants to bring me into a powerful and purposeful relationship with him to experience the full potential of his promise. Why? Not for my benefit, but so that he can make his name great in the world around me.
What are we to do in preparation for this adventure? We must purify ourselves. Consecration is a prerequisite of the miraculous experience. We must prepare for battle. We must keep the "radio" of our spirit tuned to the voice of God. To fill our lives with worldliness and self-gratification creates a broken signal.
I received a voicemail at the church that someone had left at 2:30 in the morning. "Pastor Greg, this is (static) could you call me as soon as (static)? I (static) need to talk to you. my number is 41...(static)." He was calling from a cell phone, and the connection was unclear. I was REALLY worried and was really praying for this guy. It's not usually good news if you're getting a call at that time of day. As it turned out it wasn't a crisis, he just works 3rd shift.
But when there's sin in our life, we put static in our communication with God. We can't hear his voice clearly. We must make sure to get the good "coverage" of a sinless life.
There is a price in following Christ, but it is worth it! "And no one can be my disciple who does not carry his own cross and follow me." (Luke 14:26)
We need to be so sensitive to the Holy Spirit that we hear clear directions in the smallest of things. When we respond in faithfulness to these little things, we will KNOW the voice of God so we don't have to doubt when God directs us to say, "Be Healed!"
We need to count the cost, consecrate ourselves, and prepare to experience the miracles God has laid out for us. We need to prepare for the journey of this Great Adventure!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Sunday, January 11, 2009
1.11.9 "The Pain and the Promise"
"The Pain and the Promise"
Genesis 24:52-26:16
Matthew 8:18-34
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 3:7-8
What is the most precious "human" event in life? I would think that most would answer: the birth of a child. What is the most painful "human" event in life? I would think that most [women, at least!] would answer: the birth of a child.
"Isaac pleaded with Jehovah to give Rebekah a child, for even after many years of marriage she had no children. Then at last she became pregnant. And it seemed as though children were fighting each other inside her! "I can't endure this," she exclaimed, so she asked the Lord about it."
As you look throughout scripture there seems to a connection to pain and promise. It seems that the greater the pain, the greater the promise. Abraham is promised that he will be the father of many nations. Look at the pain of barrenness that Sarah has for so many years. This is repeated in Rebekah.
God's people are in Egypt for 400 years. They are led out by Moses toward the promised land, but there's 40 years of desert.
A sacrifice is necessary to pay the price for our sins, so God gave his only Son who suffered and died... the intense pain bringing so great a promise.
One may think "well that's kind of sadistic. To receive the promise you must have pain?" As a slave to comfort the whole concept of pain can be easily misunderstood. The reality is that for us to be trusted with the promise, we must experience being refined. The refining process is rarely comfortable. In fact, comfort works against refining. The "wilderness" events in our lives are there for the purpose of securing Godly character in difficult times. Remember James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
What is the application of this message? There are marriages that are going through rocky times. God is there. He sees it. It's worth it to stick it out. The greater the pain the greater the promise. The marriage that weathers the storm comes together with intense strength and promise. So many can't see this. They feel like "Hey, I want the Promised Land, not the wilderness!" And their heart begins to run away. What a tragedy to realize that running from the pain is running from the promise.
This applies to work situations. Some individuals live a life as a "victim" to their surroundings. Because of a difficult boss, or unfair treatment they look for another job based on the uncomfortable circumstances rather than on the voice of God. It may very well be that they are in that position for the very purpose of developing Godly character.
What happens when people "bail" from the painful situations? More often than not, the test is repeated. Remember that Jesus "for the joy set before him endured the cross." Such great pain, such enduring promise.
God is not a God of pain for the sake of pain. He created us for having an intimate relationship with Him. If you've ever gone through difficulty or tragedy, or trial, you know that these are the times that you learn to trust God as never before. This is where you rely on HIS strength, and not your own.
Whatever pain you are going through right now, understand that you are in the "gestation period" of promise. God is faithful to His Word. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will carry you if you trust Him.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Genesis 24:52-26:16
Matthew 8:18-34
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 3:7-8
What is the most precious "human" event in life? I would think that most would answer: the birth of a child. What is the most painful "human" event in life? I would think that most [women, at least!] would answer: the birth of a child.
"Isaac pleaded with Jehovah to give Rebekah a child, for even after many years of marriage she had no children. Then at last she became pregnant. And it seemed as though children were fighting each other inside her! "I can't endure this," she exclaimed, so she asked the Lord about it."
As you look throughout scripture there seems to a connection to pain and promise. It seems that the greater the pain, the greater the promise. Abraham is promised that he will be the father of many nations. Look at the pain of barrenness that Sarah has for so many years. This is repeated in Rebekah.
God's people are in Egypt for 400 years. They are led out by Moses toward the promised land, but there's 40 years of desert.
A sacrifice is necessary to pay the price for our sins, so God gave his only Son who suffered and died... the intense pain bringing so great a promise.
One may think "well that's kind of sadistic. To receive the promise you must have pain?" As a slave to comfort the whole concept of pain can be easily misunderstood. The reality is that for us to be trusted with the promise, we must experience being refined. The refining process is rarely comfortable. In fact, comfort works against refining. The "wilderness" events in our lives are there for the purpose of securing Godly character in difficult times. Remember James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
What is the application of this message? There are marriages that are going through rocky times. God is there. He sees it. It's worth it to stick it out. The greater the pain the greater the promise. The marriage that weathers the storm comes together with intense strength and promise. So many can't see this. They feel like "Hey, I want the Promised Land, not the wilderness!" And their heart begins to run away. What a tragedy to realize that running from the pain is running from the promise.
This applies to work situations. Some individuals live a life as a "victim" to their surroundings. Because of a difficult boss, or unfair treatment they look for another job based on the uncomfortable circumstances rather than on the voice of God. It may very well be that they are in that position for the very purpose of developing Godly character.
What happens when people "bail" from the painful situations? More often than not, the test is repeated. Remember that Jesus "for the joy set before him endured the cross." Such great pain, such enduring promise.
God is not a God of pain for the sake of pain. He created us for having an intimate relationship with Him. If you've ever gone through difficulty or tragedy, or trial, you know that these are the times that you learn to trust God as never before. This is where you rely on HIS strength, and not your own.
Whatever pain you are going through right now, understand that you are in the "gestation period" of promise. God is faithful to His Word. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will carry you if you trust Him.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, January 9, 2009
1.9.9 "Dead Man Walking"
"Dead Man Walking"
Genesis 20:1-22:24
Matthew 7:15-29
Psalm 9:1-12
Proverbs 2:16-22
Note: I originally wrote "Dead Man Walking" 3 years ago. I find this Chapter to be one of the most intense emotional stories of the Old Testament. I believe that for the dreams God has placed in our lives to come forth, we must bring them to Mount Moriah.
The chapters in Genesis we've been reading recount the story of Abraham and his son of promise. We've heard it many times, and we must make sure to apply it's truths to our lives.
"Then God did as he had promised, and Sarah became pregnant and gave Abraham a baby son in his old age, at the time God had said; and Abraham named him Isaac (meaning 'Laughter!")." Gen 21:1-3
This is IT! you KNOW how long Abraham & Sarah have been waiting for this promise! You know what they've gone through in getting there. They made the mistake of trying to solve the promise on their own which resulted in Ishmael, they made the mistake of doubting and laughing AT God's promise. But now, in spite of all that, the promise is fulfilled. Their laughter is now that of the joy of a fulfilled promise.
In chapter 22, there's a new conversation between Abraham and the Lord.
"Abraham!" "Yes, Lord?" you can almost hear the joy in Abraham's voice his faith is so great because of seeing God's faithfulness. It's almost as if he can't wait to hear what God says next....
"Take with you your only son - yes, Isaac whom you love so much - and go to the land of Moriah and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering..."
Scripture doesn't record Abraham replying to God. MY heart would cry, "BUT GOD!!!! THIS IS THE PROMISE!!!! YOU SAID!!!!"
There are things we can't understand. We have this silly notion that we have to understand, but the Lord only desires our obedience. EVERYTHING else pales in comparison to that.
Can you imagine what happened inside of Abraham's heart? Listen to his faithfulness:
"The next morning Abraham got up early, chopped wood for a fire upon the altar, saddled his donkey, and took with him his son Isaac..."
Verse 4 says, "On the third day of the journey..."
Can you imagine? walking 3 days toward the mountain where you are to sacrifice the most precious gift you have ever had?
I may not have the specifics right, but I believe that when a death row inmate walks down the corridor, someone yells, "Dead Man Walking!"
For Abraham to walk in obedience in this way, he has had to have died to his flesh. I'm certain that the journey carried all the painful intensity of the destination. Every step of that 3 day walk is a blow to the flesh.
Can you imagine what happened inside when Isaac looked up at him, met his eyes, and said, "Father," Isaac asked, "we have the wood and the flint to make the fire, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?"
I can imagine a crack in his voice as he answered, "God will see to it, my son." And they went on...
I can hear heaven shouting, "DEAD MAN WALKING!" Those unknowing would think that these words branded Isaac, but to those who understand the life cycle of a dream, the proclamation wasn't for Isaac's death sentence. It was for the death of Abraham's flesh. It was for the death of his dream.
As horrible as this sounds, this should be our goal! We must die to the flesh. Isaac could so easily have become an idol in Abraham's life. If I were Abraham, my response would have so easily been, "NO, God! You promised him to me! He's MINE!" I say that because there are parts of me that need to die. How often we take the gifts and promises of God and we attach ourselves to them. We think they belong to us. They never do.
Needless to say, God does not call us all to literally take the path Abraham took. Family Child Services would definitely step in! However, the same death needs to occur within us in all things. We need to raise the knife to selfishness, insecurity, comfort, pride, image... Above all, we need to walk in obedience.
For Abraham, God stepped in. "Lay down the knife; don't hurt the lad in any way," the Angel said, "for I know that God is first in your life - you have not withheld even your beloved son from me." (Gen 22:12) in verse 16 it says, "I the Lord have sworn by myself that because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son from me, I will bless you with incredible blessings and multiply your descendants into countless thousands and millions..." verse 18 ends " - all because you have obeyed me."
Obedience is our objective. In Matthew 7 Jesus is talking about false teachers. He says in verse 21, "Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but still wont get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven".
What is does a Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship look like? It's a life of obedience. It's "Dead Man Walking!" When we make it a habit to die to the flesh, we learn to LIVE in the power of the Spirit! The first steps toward the mountain of sacrifice can seem so difficult, but when we live in the freedom of death to the flesh, life is AWESOME! There's nothing that can sway us from the plan of God! Circumstances that seemed so huge in the past are no longer giants. They are merely opportunities for God to make his name great!
"Dead Man Walking!"
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Genesis 20:1-22:24
Matthew 7:15-29
Psalm 9:1-12
Proverbs 2:16-22
Note: I originally wrote "Dead Man Walking" 3 years ago. I find this Chapter to be one of the most intense emotional stories of the Old Testament. I believe that for the dreams God has placed in our lives to come forth, we must bring them to Mount Moriah.
The chapters in Genesis we've been reading recount the story of Abraham and his son of promise. We've heard it many times, and we must make sure to apply it's truths to our lives.
"Then God did as he had promised, and Sarah became pregnant and gave Abraham a baby son in his old age, at the time God had said; and Abraham named him Isaac (meaning 'Laughter!")." Gen 21:1-3
This is IT! you KNOW how long Abraham & Sarah have been waiting for this promise! You know what they've gone through in getting there. They made the mistake of trying to solve the promise on their own which resulted in Ishmael, they made the mistake of doubting and laughing AT God's promise. But now, in spite of all that, the promise is fulfilled. Their laughter is now that of the joy of a fulfilled promise.
In chapter 22, there's a new conversation between Abraham and the Lord.
"Abraham!" "Yes, Lord?" you can almost hear the joy in Abraham's voice his faith is so great because of seeing God's faithfulness. It's almost as if he can't wait to hear what God says next....
"Take with you your only son - yes, Isaac whom you love so much - and go to the land of Moriah and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering..."
Scripture doesn't record Abraham replying to God. MY heart would cry, "BUT GOD!!!! THIS IS THE PROMISE!!!! YOU SAID!!!!"
There are things we can't understand. We have this silly notion that we have to understand, but the Lord only desires our obedience. EVERYTHING else pales in comparison to that.
Can you imagine what happened inside of Abraham's heart? Listen to his faithfulness:
"The next morning Abraham got up early, chopped wood for a fire upon the altar, saddled his donkey, and took with him his son Isaac..."
Verse 4 says, "On the third day of the journey..."
Can you imagine? walking 3 days toward the mountain where you are to sacrifice the most precious gift you have ever had?
I may not have the specifics right, but I believe that when a death row inmate walks down the corridor, someone yells, "Dead Man Walking!"
For Abraham to walk in obedience in this way, he has had to have died to his flesh. I'm certain that the journey carried all the painful intensity of the destination. Every step of that 3 day walk is a blow to the flesh.
Can you imagine what happened inside when Isaac looked up at him, met his eyes, and said, "Father," Isaac asked, "we have the wood and the flint to make the fire, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?"
I can imagine a crack in his voice as he answered, "God will see to it, my son." And they went on...
I can hear heaven shouting, "DEAD MAN WALKING!" Those unknowing would think that these words branded Isaac, but to those who understand the life cycle of a dream, the proclamation wasn't for Isaac's death sentence. It was for the death of Abraham's flesh. It was for the death of his dream.
As horrible as this sounds, this should be our goal! We must die to the flesh. Isaac could so easily have become an idol in Abraham's life. If I were Abraham, my response would have so easily been, "NO, God! You promised him to me! He's MINE!" I say that because there are parts of me that need to die. How often we take the gifts and promises of God and we attach ourselves to them. We think they belong to us. They never do.
Needless to say, God does not call us all to literally take the path Abraham took. Family Child Services would definitely step in! However, the same death needs to occur within us in all things. We need to raise the knife to selfishness, insecurity, comfort, pride, image... Above all, we need to walk in obedience.
For Abraham, God stepped in. "Lay down the knife; don't hurt the lad in any way," the Angel said, "for I know that God is first in your life - you have not withheld even your beloved son from me." (Gen 22:12) in verse 16 it says, "I the Lord have sworn by myself that because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son from me, I will bless you with incredible blessings and multiply your descendants into countless thousands and millions..." verse 18 ends " - all because you have obeyed me."
Obedience is our objective. In Matthew 7 Jesus is talking about false teachers. He says in verse 21, "Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but still wont get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven".
What is does a Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship look like? It's a life of obedience. It's "Dead Man Walking!" When we make it a habit to die to the flesh, we learn to LIVE in the power of the Spirit! The first steps toward the mountain of sacrifice can seem so difficult, but when we live in the freedom of death to the flesh, life is AWESOME! There's nothing that can sway us from the plan of God! Circumstances that seemed so huge in the past are no longer giants. They are merely opportunities for God to make his name great!
"Dead Man Walking!"
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Saturday, January 3, 2009
1.3.9 "Safe!"
"Safe!"
Genesis 5:1-7:24
Matthew 3:7-4:11
Psalm 3:1-8
Proverbs 1:10-19
I'm not a huge baseball fan, but i enjoy watching it occasionally. One of the most exciting plays in baseball, at least to me is when there's a play at home. There's a cloud of dust as the runner hits the dirt, maybe a collision as the catcher tries to guard the plate, and the umpire, who's dreamed all his life about making the big call spreads out his arm and yells, "Safe!" Great stuff.
As kids we would play games of tag where you're running for your life (or so it seems), and right when you're about to get tagged, you touch the tree which is "home", and the tag is too late! Whew! Your heart is pounding like crazy! Real excitement!
Sometimes in life, we can run through trials and difficulties as if we're being chased. Our heart is pounding, and we're scrambling for "home", and not sure where going to make it.
While it is true that we are in a battle, the truth is that we can have the confidence that we are "safe" wherever we are. Psalms 3 says, "O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, 'God will never rescue him!' But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I'm not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side."
What confidence that when we are with the Lord, We are SAFE! When there are storms & trials we can know that the Lord is our Sheild!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Genesis 5:1-7:24
Matthew 3:7-4:11
Psalm 3:1-8
Proverbs 1:10-19
I'm not a huge baseball fan, but i enjoy watching it occasionally. One of the most exciting plays in baseball, at least to me is when there's a play at home. There's a cloud of dust as the runner hits the dirt, maybe a collision as the catcher tries to guard the plate, and the umpire, who's dreamed all his life about making the big call spreads out his arm and yells, "Safe!" Great stuff.
As kids we would play games of tag where you're running for your life (or so it seems), and right when you're about to get tagged, you touch the tree which is "home", and the tag is too late! Whew! Your heart is pounding like crazy! Real excitement!
Sometimes in life, we can run through trials and difficulties as if we're being chased. Our heart is pounding, and we're scrambling for "home", and not sure where going to make it.
While it is true that we are in a battle, the truth is that we can have the confidence that we are "safe" wherever we are. Psalms 3 says, "O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, 'God will never rescue him!' But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I'm not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side."
What confidence that when we are with the Lord, We are SAFE! When there are storms & trials we can know that the Lord is our Sheild!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Monday, May 12, 2008
5.12.8 "God's Timing"
"God's Timing"
1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
John 7:1-30
Psalm 108:1-13
Proverbs 15:4
How important is it to wait for God's timing? I think patience is one of the most challenging areas of growth in the Christian life. It can be frustrating to want to do something, and yet have to wait. It can even be a greater challenge when we know it's the right thing to do, and yet God says, "wait."
We all know God has a plan for our life. He gives us big dreams. He calls us to great things. Sometimes he gives a picture of what it will be like. He places the desires within us. Here's where we get into trouble. "I know God has called me to do such and such, so now I'm going to make it happen." We then manipulate situations, and circumstances to make it happen. It's not a big deal, right? I mean it's the thing he's called us to do!
In I Samuel 13, Saul and his army are waiting to go to war with the Philistines. "When the men of israel saw the vast mass of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, thickets, coverts, among the rocks, and even in tombs and cisterns... Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and those who were with him trembled with fear at what awaited them. Samuel had told Saul earlier to wait seven days for his arrival, but when he still didn't come, and Saul's troops were rapidly slipping away, he decided to sacrifice the burnt offering and the peace offerings himself. But just as he was finishing, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and to receive his blessing, but Samuel said, 'What is this you have done?'" (I Sam. 13:6-11)
Saul makes excuses about why he went ahead with the sacrifice, but Samuel says, "'You fool!' Samuel exclaimed. 'You have disobeyed the commandment of the Lord your God. He was planning to make you and your descendants kings of Israel forever, but now your dynasty must end; for the Lord wants a man who will obey him.'" (13:13-14)
Wow! that's a pretty heavy consequence for such a "seemingly small" step of disobedience. Why is that? Let's compare this with a conversation that Jesus has with his brothers in John 7.
"But soon it was time for the Tabernacle Ceremonies, one of the annual Jewish holidays, and Jesus' brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration. 'Go where more people can see your miracles!' they scoffed. 'You can't be famous when you hide like this! If you're so great, prove it to the world!' For even his brothers didn't believe in him. Jesus replied, 'It is not the right time for me to go now. But you can go anytime and it will make no difference... You go on, and I'll come later when it is the right time.'" (John 7:2-8) Jesus did end up going a little later, but "incognito".
What is the difference between Jesus and Saul? One of them understood the importance of the right timing in doing what he was called to do. There's a bigger picture. Not only is there the right thing to do, there is a right time to do it. To do the right thing at the wrong time is doing the wrong thing.
One of the things we see by the consequence upon Saul is the HUGE importance God puts on obedience. There is always more at stake than we think. When we take short cuts, we risk EVERYTHING. Jesus knew this when he was being tempted by Satan. If we don't have a full understanding of our call and the value God places on our obedience, we will sell it for a bowl of soup without even thinking about it.
You are valuable to God. When you understand that value, you will make decisions that reflect the intensity and importance of what you are called to do. Remember when Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."? That is only true when we are walking in step with him. If we are trying to move too fast or too slow, or turn one way or another, we are pulling against his will. We are exerting a lot of fleshly effort.
We need to constrain ourselves to his will. We need to understand the precious cargo we are carrying. We have the call of God on our life. This "burden" should not be a lack of peace. It's similar to that feeling as you walk out of the hospital with your first born. That is an almost indescribable sense. Not in the fact that it's a bad feeling, you feel the awesome responsibility of doing the right thing.
Let's never forget the precious cargo of the calling and the burden of obedience that we carry with us each and every day.
The essence of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is Obedience. Walk in obedience today. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
John 7:1-30
Psalm 108:1-13
Proverbs 15:4
How important is it to wait for God's timing? I think patience is one of the most challenging areas of growth in the Christian life. It can be frustrating to want to do something, and yet have to wait. It can even be a greater challenge when we know it's the right thing to do, and yet God says, "wait."
We all know God has a plan for our life. He gives us big dreams. He calls us to great things. Sometimes he gives a picture of what it will be like. He places the desires within us. Here's where we get into trouble. "I know God has called me to do such and such, so now I'm going to make it happen." We then manipulate situations, and circumstances to make it happen. It's not a big deal, right? I mean it's the thing he's called us to do!
In I Samuel 13, Saul and his army are waiting to go to war with the Philistines. "When the men of israel saw the vast mass of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, thickets, coverts, among the rocks, and even in tombs and cisterns... Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and those who were with him trembled with fear at what awaited them. Samuel had told Saul earlier to wait seven days for his arrival, but when he still didn't come, and Saul's troops were rapidly slipping away, he decided to sacrifice the burnt offering and the peace offerings himself. But just as he was finishing, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and to receive his blessing, but Samuel said, 'What is this you have done?'" (I Sam. 13:6-11)
Saul makes excuses about why he went ahead with the sacrifice, but Samuel says, "'You fool!' Samuel exclaimed. 'You have disobeyed the commandment of the Lord your God. He was planning to make you and your descendants kings of Israel forever, but now your dynasty must end; for the Lord wants a man who will obey him.'" (13:13-14)
Wow! that's a pretty heavy consequence for such a "seemingly small" step of disobedience. Why is that? Let's compare this with a conversation that Jesus has with his brothers in John 7.
"But soon it was time for the Tabernacle Ceremonies, one of the annual Jewish holidays, and Jesus' brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration. 'Go where more people can see your miracles!' they scoffed. 'You can't be famous when you hide like this! If you're so great, prove it to the world!' For even his brothers didn't believe in him. Jesus replied, 'It is not the right time for me to go now. But you can go anytime and it will make no difference... You go on, and I'll come later when it is the right time.'" (John 7:2-8) Jesus did end up going a little later, but "incognito".
What is the difference between Jesus and Saul? One of them understood the importance of the right timing in doing what he was called to do. There's a bigger picture. Not only is there the right thing to do, there is a right time to do it. To do the right thing at the wrong time is doing the wrong thing.
One of the things we see by the consequence upon Saul is the HUGE importance God puts on obedience. There is always more at stake than we think. When we take short cuts, we risk EVERYTHING. Jesus knew this when he was being tempted by Satan. If we don't have a full understanding of our call and the value God places on our obedience, we will sell it for a bowl of soup without even thinking about it.
You are valuable to God. When you understand that value, you will make decisions that reflect the intensity and importance of what you are called to do. Remember when Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."? That is only true when we are walking in step with him. If we are trying to move too fast or too slow, or turn one way or another, we are pulling against his will. We are exerting a lot of fleshly effort.
We need to constrain ourselves to his will. We need to understand the precious cargo we are carrying. We have the call of God on our life. This "burden" should not be a lack of peace. It's similar to that feeling as you walk out of the hospital with your first born. That is an almost indescribable sense. Not in the fact that it's a bad feeling, you feel the awesome responsibility of doing the right thing.
Let's never forget the precious cargo of the calling and the burden of obedience that we carry with us each and every day.
The essence of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is Obedience. Walk in obedience today. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, April 17, 2008
4.17.8 "Ain't No God Like Mine!"
"Ain't No God Like Mine!"
Joshua 15:1-63
Luke 18:18-43
Psalm 86:1-17
Proverbs 13:9-10
As kids there was always a "my dad's tougher than yours" conversation at some point or another. My dad was a hockey coach, so I had a lot of clout in that area. Of course those conversations are motivated by pride, and not the healthiest thing to get involved in as they usually lead to a fight in some form or another, which proves today's Proverb true: "Pride leads to conflict..." (Prov. 13:10)
Reading today's Psalm, we get that "my God's tougher than yours" feeling. "Where among the heathen gods is there a god like you? Where are their miracles?" (Ps 86:3) What a great line! Where are their miracles? There is no god like our God! He is awesome his power is unending. As much as we've experienced, we can only comprehend a portion of his greatness.
Everyone's going to know it, though. "All the nations - and you made each one - will come and bow before you, Lord, and praise your great and holy name. For you are great, and do great miracles. You alone are God." (Ps 86:9-10)
We serve an awesome God! We need to think about that. We need to acknowledge his greatness. We need to respond in worship. How do we worship? With our lives.
"Tell me where you want me to go and I will go there. May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your name. With all my heart I will praise you. I will give glory to your name forever, for you love me so much! you are constantly so kind! You have rescued me from deepest hell." (Ps 86:11-13)
I love that line "May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your name." What would our day be like if we lived like that? If every fiber of my being united in reverence to his name, I would obey his commands, I would walk in unity, I would study his Word, I would use the gifts he's given me for his glory.
I would Live the DREAM!
Today's reading from Joshua is one that you probably don't have memorized. It lays out the allotment for the tribe of Judah in the promised land. It lists the boundaries on all sides, and then goes on to list the hundreds of cities & surrounding villages that were conquered, and allotted to them.
Ok, be honest... did you read each name of each city? I caught myself skipping over a few verses because i caught the "gist" of what was going on. As I was doing that, I realized I was skipping over answered prayer. The cities that are listed are the result of the unbelievable trials and miracles that God's people went through. This was the promise.
It made me stop to think if I'm doing the same thing in my life. Do I skip over the "details" of the great things God has done for me. "yeah, yeah, yeah... my God is better than any other... I got the gist...." That's not how we should be! We should be listing the great things God has done!
In Luke 18:35-43 the blind man is crying out to Jesus, and Jesus asks him, "'What do you want me to do for you?' 'Lord,' he said, 'I want to see!'" Jesus healed him, and verse 43 says, "Instantly the man could see, and he followed jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too."
The healing of the blind man is a bit more exciting to us than the list of cities. Yet both are a sign of an awesome God. What do you have to praise God for today? I have health! I have provision.
God is GREAT! There ain't NO god like mine!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Joshua 15:1-63
Luke 18:18-43
Psalm 86:1-17
Proverbs 13:9-10
As kids there was always a "my dad's tougher than yours" conversation at some point or another. My dad was a hockey coach, so I had a lot of clout in that area. Of course those conversations are motivated by pride, and not the healthiest thing to get involved in as they usually lead to a fight in some form or another, which proves today's Proverb true: "Pride leads to conflict..." (Prov. 13:10)
Reading today's Psalm, we get that "my God's tougher than yours" feeling. "Where among the heathen gods is there a god like you? Where are their miracles?" (Ps 86:3) What a great line! Where are their miracles? There is no god like our God! He is awesome his power is unending. As much as we've experienced, we can only comprehend a portion of his greatness.
Everyone's going to know it, though. "All the nations - and you made each one - will come and bow before you, Lord, and praise your great and holy name. For you are great, and do great miracles. You alone are God." (Ps 86:9-10)
We serve an awesome God! We need to think about that. We need to acknowledge his greatness. We need to respond in worship. How do we worship? With our lives.
"Tell me where you want me to go and I will go there. May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your name. With all my heart I will praise you. I will give glory to your name forever, for you love me so much! you are constantly so kind! You have rescued me from deepest hell." (Ps 86:11-13)
I love that line "May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your name." What would our day be like if we lived like that? If every fiber of my being united in reverence to his name, I would obey his commands, I would walk in unity, I would study his Word, I would use the gifts he's given me for his glory.
I would Live the DREAM!
Today's reading from Joshua is one that you probably don't have memorized. It lays out the allotment for the tribe of Judah in the promised land. It lists the boundaries on all sides, and then goes on to list the hundreds of cities & surrounding villages that were conquered, and allotted to them.
Ok, be honest... did you read each name of each city? I caught myself skipping over a few verses because i caught the "gist" of what was going on. As I was doing that, I realized I was skipping over answered prayer. The cities that are listed are the result of the unbelievable trials and miracles that God's people went through. This was the promise.
It made me stop to think if I'm doing the same thing in my life. Do I skip over the "details" of the great things God has done for me. "yeah, yeah, yeah... my God is better than any other... I got the gist...." That's not how we should be! We should be listing the great things God has done!
In Luke 18:35-43 the blind man is crying out to Jesus, and Jesus asks him, "'What do you want me to do for you?' 'Lord,' he said, 'I want to see!'" Jesus healed him, and verse 43 says, "Instantly the man could see, and he followed jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too."
The healing of the blind man is a bit more exciting to us than the list of cities. Yet both are a sign of an awesome God. What do you have to praise God for today? I have health! I have provision.
God is GREAT! There ain't NO god like mine!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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