"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the field, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation." Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT)
It is a matter of the heart when it comes to living a life devoted to being happy. You either let your circumstances get the best of you or you resolve to have joy despite your circumstance. There is a special characteristic of tenacity that is prevalent for those who resolve to be happy no matter what.
The question is often what holds us back? Why do we ride emotions like waves or roller coasters? the answer is quite simple we try to hard on our own. The writer of this verse has a tenacious resolve to not let anything get in the way of his joy! So what if there's famine in the land, so what if everything is taken away from them. They are confident in the one thing that rises above the circumstances...God. Their confidence in God causes their condition of joy to never change just like their God no matter what.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
And Then Some...
A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. "Give it to the people to eat," Elisha said. "How can I set this before a hundred men?" his servant asked. But Elisha answered, "Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the LORD says: 'They will eat and have some left over.' "Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD. 2 Kings 4:42-44
The process of faith requires a blind commitment on your part to just do and not ask questions. In this passage, the servant of Elisha had some doubts about the process being that there were twenty loaves to feed one hundred men. He saw the physical aspect of the situation and reasoned to himself, "there is no way." He obviously had his focus on the wrong thing.
Conversely, the prophet had a sense for the supernatural. He knew that God was in the midst of his situation and told the servant to just do what God said and see that there will be even some left over. Elisha had his sights set on that which was above and didn't let his physical circumstance deviate His focus.
There is nothing that can get in the way of a spiritually motivated person who has sold out to listening to what God says. That person understands that nothing in the physical realm can shake the word of God. In short, seeing what God wants to show us requires a reckless abandon. God is looking to provide for you in ways you can't even imagine. You just have to see it with a different set of eyes in order to step into the physical aspect of your blessing. Most importantly, you must stay focused on what God has said...
The process of faith requires a blind commitment on your part to just do and not ask questions. In this passage, the servant of Elisha had some doubts about the process being that there were twenty loaves to feed one hundred men. He saw the physical aspect of the situation and reasoned to himself, "there is no way." He obviously had his focus on the wrong thing.
Conversely, the prophet had a sense for the supernatural. He knew that God was in the midst of his situation and told the servant to just do what God said and see that there will be even some left over. Elisha had his sights set on that which was above and didn't let his physical circumstance deviate His focus.
There is nothing that can get in the way of a spiritually motivated person who has sold out to listening to what God says. That person understands that nothing in the physical realm can shake the word of God. In short, seeing what God wants to show us requires a reckless abandon. God is looking to provide for you in ways you can't even imagine. You just have to see it with a different set of eyes in order to step into the physical aspect of your blessing. Most importantly, you must stay focused on what God has said...
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The Same
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
If we keep focusing on the problems ahead we'd have a tendency to feel down about things. But if we pause for a moment pray and give thanks our perspective changes. The other day I began to pray and the first thing I subconsciously said was, "Thank you God because you never change." Then it dawned on me... "God never changes." Just because I have problems He's still Jehovah-Jireh (God who provides), and just because I may be sick He's still Jehovah-Rapha (God who heals).I became overwhelmed by sudden thoughts of His grace and mercy and how they are always available.
We as people grow old and change. Our relationships change through the times. Our character develops through time. As much as we'd like or hate to admit it, within the next few years we will be a lot different than we are today. But thank God that He will never change. His love towards us will never grow weak. He will never leave us, nor forsake us. How do I know all this? He's promised it to us, so I know that if I can take anything to the bank its His promises.
Stop and think for a moment, try to find a problem He hasn't already solved. Just because we are still going through it doesn't mean that the problem isn't already solved. Think about this... The enemy has already been defeated his fate has been sealed and he's going to the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). The only reason it hasn't happened yet is because the perfect time for its resolution has not come, but there has already been a response. The answer to whatever you're going through is exactly the same. God has already solved it and has added a blessing to you on top of it. All we need to do is remind ourselves that God will never change, and keep believing. "Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” (John 11:40)
If we keep focusing on the problems ahead we'd have a tendency to feel down about things. But if we pause for a moment pray and give thanks our perspective changes. The other day I began to pray and the first thing I subconsciously said was, "Thank you God because you never change." Then it dawned on me... "God never changes." Just because I have problems He's still Jehovah-Jireh (God who provides), and just because I may be sick He's still Jehovah-Rapha (God who heals).I became overwhelmed by sudden thoughts of His grace and mercy and how they are always available.
We as people grow old and change. Our relationships change through the times. Our character develops through time. As much as we'd like or hate to admit it, within the next few years we will be a lot different than we are today. But thank God that He will never change. His love towards us will never grow weak. He will never leave us, nor forsake us. How do I know all this? He's promised it to us, so I know that if I can take anything to the bank its His promises.
Stop and think for a moment, try to find a problem He hasn't already solved. Just because we are still going through it doesn't mean that the problem isn't already solved. Think about this... The enemy has already been defeated his fate has been sealed and he's going to the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). The only reason it hasn't happened yet is because the perfect time for its resolution has not come, but there has already been a response. The answer to whatever you're going through is exactly the same. God has already solved it and has added a blessing to you on top of it. All we need to do is remind ourselves that God will never change, and keep believing. "Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” (John 11:40)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Signs
"The blood shall be for a token or sign to you upon [the doorposts of] the houses where you are, [that] when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt." Exodus 12:13 (AMP)
Its interesting to note How God worked predominately in the Old Testament, more specifically His usage of signs in revealing them to His people. The signs He showed to others were mainly predicated on His promises to serve as a picture to others His enduring goodness and protection.
Think about it, to Noah He gave a rainbow as a sign that He would never destroy the earth again with water. To Abraham He provided pictures of the stars in the sky, by night and sand in the desert during the day as a promise of his legacy. Even to Moses God would provide a myriad of signs with one serving as a could to guide them by day and a pillar of fire to guard them by night.
God operated in this way, because He felt it was necessary for us to have something to cling to. Something that would serve as a tangible evidence of hope so that even when trouble would come, we'd be reminded of the eternal faithfulness of God. Enter Jesus, and by His life here on earth we have evidence not only of God's grace for us to live productive and fruitful lives, but His love that has transcended time and space. Each time you see a sign in your life, remind yourself of the ultimate sign of Jesus who died on the cross and rose again for us, so that we can live freely abundant lives.
Its interesting to note How God worked predominately in the Old Testament, more specifically His usage of signs in revealing them to His people. The signs He showed to others were mainly predicated on His promises to serve as a picture to others His enduring goodness and protection.
Think about it, to Noah He gave a rainbow as a sign that He would never destroy the earth again with water. To Abraham He provided pictures of the stars in the sky, by night and sand in the desert during the day as a promise of his legacy. Even to Moses God would provide a myriad of signs with one serving as a could to guide them by day and a pillar of fire to guard them by night.
God operated in this way, because He felt it was necessary for us to have something to cling to. Something that would serve as a tangible evidence of hope so that even when trouble would come, we'd be reminded of the eternal faithfulness of God. Enter Jesus, and by His life here on earth we have evidence not only of God's grace for us to live productive and fruitful lives, but His love that has transcended time and space. Each time you see a sign in your life, remind yourself of the ultimate sign of Jesus who died on the cross and rose again for us, so that we can live freely abundant lives.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Just Ask
"I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My name." John 16:23 (AMP)
The simplicity of the Gospel and the message of Jesus are sometimes astounding. There I was sitting in my bed ruminating about the problems of life when suddenly I feel prompted to seek God for answers (He know's every answer to every problem). When I open to this passage I begin to think, "WOW.. it's that simple isn't it?"
I began to pray and just ask God to remove the obstacles in life I was facing, all of a sudden faith started rising up within me as I began to understand in my head and my heart that this was the will of God according to HIS WORD. I became encouraged and started Thanking God for answering my prayer because there was a sensation that overtook me in which I felt it was already done. What an amazing experience!
The lesson I learned over and above anything else is that our approach to God with anything in our lives should be just as simple as us just asking. If we take the first step of asking, then we in some small measure already believe in His ability to get it done. I know some people like complicating it more than that but if Jesus tells us that this is the way to answered prayer its worth our attention.
The simplicity of the Gospel and the message of Jesus are sometimes astounding. There I was sitting in my bed ruminating about the problems of life when suddenly I feel prompted to seek God for answers (He know's every answer to every problem). When I open to this passage I begin to think, "WOW.. it's that simple isn't it?"
I began to pray and just ask God to remove the obstacles in life I was facing, all of a sudden faith started rising up within me as I began to understand in my head and my heart that this was the will of God according to HIS WORD. I became encouraged and started Thanking God for answering my prayer because there was a sensation that overtook me in which I felt it was already done. What an amazing experience!
The lesson I learned over and above anything else is that our approach to God with anything in our lives should be just as simple as us just asking. If we take the first step of asking, then we in some small measure already believe in His ability to get it done. I know some people like complicating it more than that but if Jesus tells us that this is the way to answered prayer its worth our attention.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Comfort
"As a mother comforts her child, so I'll comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem." Isaiah 66:13 (The Message)
What I love most about our God is that He is a present God. It doesn't matter how many people in our lives wittingly or unwittingly leave us, He's always there. What's best about it all is the comfort and security His presence provides.
I remember being afraid of the dark when I was young, I remember looking for at least a little ray of light when going through those dark places, and the moment I found the glimmer of light I felt better. I liken the presence of God as that ray of light. The best thing about this light is that it will never leave us, nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). That is the most comforting of notions.
What I love most about our God is that He is a present God. It doesn't matter how many people in our lives wittingly or unwittingly leave us, He's always there. What's best about it all is the comfort and security His presence provides.
I remember being afraid of the dark when I was young, I remember looking for at least a little ray of light when going through those dark places, and the moment I found the glimmer of light I felt better. I liken the presence of God as that ray of light. The best thing about this light is that it will never leave us, nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). That is the most comforting of notions.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Not Condemned
"The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed...For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved." Romans 10:11, 13 (Amplified)
Paul starts Romans chapter 8 by saying, "Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..." The gamut has been laid and it is established that if we are in Christ we have no condemnation. This is important because in Christ's day There was condemnation all around by the Jews. They even condemned Jesus on several occasions for healing people on the sabbath. Paul's message put a covering over it all, his message is saying if we believe in Christ and remain in Him we are not entitled to any condemnation.
This is as much a message for the Roman church as it is for the church of today. Far too often there is still condemnation for those who are in Christ, even from those inside the church. Jesus said, "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4) Simply put, if we hold on to the word of God we have the sustenance for daily living regardless of external circumstances. Believe. Call upon His name, and you surely shall be saved and not live a life of condemnation. That's cause for rejoicing!
Paul starts Romans chapter 8 by saying, "Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..." The gamut has been laid and it is established that if we are in Christ we have no condemnation. This is important because in Christ's day There was condemnation all around by the Jews. They even condemned Jesus on several occasions for healing people on the sabbath. Paul's message put a covering over it all, his message is saying if we believe in Christ and remain in Him we are not entitled to any condemnation.
This is as much a message for the Roman church as it is for the church of today. Far too often there is still condemnation for those who are in Christ, even from those inside the church. Jesus said, "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4) Simply put, if we hold on to the word of God we have the sustenance for daily living regardless of external circumstances. Believe. Call upon His name, and you surely shall be saved and not live a life of condemnation. That's cause for rejoicing!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Incomprehensible
"What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!" 1 Cor 2:9 (CEV)
I guess incomprehensible would work, or maybe even unfathomable. Either way those words describe of level of depth that is really foreign to man. It's something that cannot be really explained. Which brings me to Isaiah 55:9 which says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
I mean if we really break it down, how does one who deserves nothing more than death receive life? Or what about the people who live a life of serving other god's can gain full access to the amazing grace that God bestows upon His children. It all defines logic/reason. It's absolutely mind-boggling, but without a doubt it is the most necessary element to mankind. The Savior sacrifice sealed in the entire universe a path that leads to redemption and life that NOTHING can prevent us from gaining access to.
As a result of all this was a divine plan for each of us. For who would devote this immeasurable amount of love if He didn't have a use for us? When the enemy, the adversary of our souls whispered to us we were worthless. He died to prove you were worth it! How truly amazing is that? Live a life that honors this sacrifice, that's the only act of service from us that would seem reasonable.
I guess incomprehensible would work, or maybe even unfathomable. Either way those words describe of level of depth that is really foreign to man. It's something that cannot be really explained. Which brings me to Isaiah 55:9 which says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
I mean if we really break it down, how does one who deserves nothing more than death receive life? Or what about the people who live a life of serving other god's can gain full access to the amazing grace that God bestows upon His children. It all defines logic/reason. It's absolutely mind-boggling, but without a doubt it is the most necessary element to mankind. The Savior sacrifice sealed in the entire universe a path that leads to redemption and life that NOTHING can prevent us from gaining access to.
As a result of all this was a divine plan for each of us. For who would devote this immeasurable amount of love if He didn't have a use for us? When the enemy, the adversary of our souls whispered to us we were worthless. He died to prove you were worth it! How truly amazing is that? Live a life that honors this sacrifice, that's the only act of service from us that would seem reasonable.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
In Him
"We live and move in him, can't get away from Him! One of the poets said it well: We're the God created." Acts 17:28 (MSG)
I love the inescapable fact that God will do everything He can to make sure we never escape Him. Consider how in the garden even after Adam and Eve fell. He continued to seek them out because His desire for relationship with them was never quenched (see Gen 3).
This blows my mind because what am I that He would want to spend so much time with me. I'm frail, and make several mistakes, and yet He never wants to get away from me. That's totally unlike us isn't it?
The first time someone hurt us, we immediately want them to feel the consequences of that hurt and if it happens repeatedly then we will altogether remove ourselves from them. God does not do that. He holds out hope that one day we'll return to Him. He never turns His back on us, in His mind we are His creation and why would any creator want to turn his back on his creation? How comforting it is to know this.
I love the inescapable fact that God will do everything He can to make sure we never escape Him. Consider how in the garden even after Adam and Eve fell. He continued to seek them out because His desire for relationship with them was never quenched (see Gen 3).
This blows my mind because what am I that He would want to spend so much time with me. I'm frail, and make several mistakes, and yet He never wants to get away from me. That's totally unlike us isn't it?
The first time someone hurt us, we immediately want them to feel the consequences of that hurt and if it happens repeatedly then we will altogether remove ourselves from them. God does not do that. He holds out hope that one day we'll return to Him. He never turns His back on us, in His mind we are His creation and why would any creator want to turn his back on his creation? How comforting it is to know this.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Finality
"Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing...It is finished" Luke 23:34; John 19:30 (NLT)
A man's character is evident in moments of discomfort and inconvenience. There you are given a true glimpse of their inner soul. Jesus showed His mettle by never relenting in love even though it was being reciprocated by hate. In the final moments before He uttered His last words, He hangs there on the cross and sees men making a mockery of Him, and gambling for His clothing. He's not moved or incited by anger, as probably the vast majority of us would be, rather He is consumed by compassion for these were whom He was destined to die for.
Interestingly enough, before He died the last thing He tasted was bitterness. As the time for His death approached, He thirsted as if to ask for a drink. His handlers obliged dipping a sponge in sour wine, a taste so vile that in the midst of excruciating pain, it just became ultimately unbearable. Sure He could have called down His angels to save Him, avoiding the embarassment of divinity being ridiculed, but He didn't. He stayed on that cross arms stretched out, blood dripping away from alll over His body. Pause a moment and picture that scene. I hope you realize that the finality of it all was for us.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Silence
"They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” John 8:7 (NLT)
I can picture the vindictiveness and hatred in their eyes. They were certainly out for blood and not just the blood of a woman caught in adultery but the blood of a man that eventually they would get. Seeking to trap him ever so subtly they sprung a trap bringing at the feet of Jesus a woman who had just been caught up in adultery... a sin that according to the law required a stoning.
Bringing her to Jesus these men figured they had a slam dunk. There were throngs of witnesses who could testify to her guilt and they were armed and ready for the kill, until Jesus changed their plans.
From the outside looking in you could almost see that Jesus didn't care much for this kangaroo court system and tried not pay it any mind. But eventually "they kept demanding an answer," and set themselves up for something they were wholly unprepared for. In so many words the hatred and vile the crowd spewed out changed into conviction and silence. They cast aside their stones and went back home for they couldn't match wits with the Word of God. His grace and mercy prevailed once again. Might we not get caught up in the hatred of the crowd and rise above realizing we've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The Destination
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14:1-4 (NIV)
Don't let the adversity of life bring you down. Trust that whatever you need in life God will take care of it. Above all else, be hopeful of His return. Don't focus on the economy, or bailouts, or even the moral decay in society. This is not to be confused with not caring because we should definitely care, but this should not be what we consume our minds with everyday.
Think about your where your destination will be when all is finished as Christ said he was going to heaven to prepare a place for all of us. This place will be magnificent and resplendent. I suggest you do everything you can to make this appointment because this is definitely something you do not want to be late for much less miss.
What God has in store for us is priceless. It cannot be bought, rather it is a free gift (should we choose to accept it). Our role... is to not let our external circumstances cause us to miss what was freely given to us. It's a rather simple concept that people overlook.
Don't let the adversity of life bring you down. Trust that whatever you need in life God will take care of it. Above all else, be hopeful of His return. Don't focus on the economy, or bailouts, or even the moral decay in society. This is not to be confused with not caring because we should definitely care, but this should not be what we consume our minds with everyday.
Think about your where your destination will be when all is finished as Christ said he was going to heaven to prepare a place for all of us. This place will be magnificent and resplendent. I suggest you do everything you can to make this appointment because this is definitely something you do not want to be late for much less miss.
What God has in store for us is priceless. It cannot be bought, rather it is a free gift (should we choose to accept it). Our role... is to not let our external circumstances cause us to miss what was freely given to us. It's a rather simple concept that people overlook.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Simple Faith
"Because of my faith in Him, I dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (and unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear)." Ephesians 3:12 (AMP)
God desires for us to have successful and exceedingly abundant lives (Eph 3:20). He also wants us to exercise boldness when we ask Him for such things. He doesn't want us to be afraid to believe for "even greater" things. In fact, Jesus echoes this sentiment in John 14:12 when He says, "I assure you most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father." Greater things than Jesus? Wow.
Of course, in order for us to have access to this amazing life we must possess a simple element of faith. All Jesus is asking from you is to simply believe in Him. Its amazing how just believing will revolutionize every aspect of your life, but its true. Simple faith will cause things to come to pass in your life that will make the impossible seem possible. Just imagine what could happen in your life if you lived by this type of faith...dictating how you believed instead of your senses. You would see mountains move.
God desires for us to have successful and exceedingly abundant lives (Eph 3:20). He also wants us to exercise boldness when we ask Him for such things. He doesn't want us to be afraid to believe for "even greater" things. In fact, Jesus echoes this sentiment in John 14:12 when He says, "I assure you most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father." Greater things than Jesus? Wow.
Of course, in order for us to have access to this amazing life we must possess a simple element of faith. All Jesus is asking from you is to simply believe in Him. Its amazing how just believing will revolutionize every aspect of your life, but its true. Simple faith will cause things to come to pass in your life that will make the impossible seem possible. Just imagine what could happen in your life if you lived by this type of faith...dictating how you believed instead of your senses. You would see mountains move.
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