What is Isaiah 66 describing? Are we told about the future of Israel, the future of the church, or the collective future of humanity? The language speaks of the birth, death, rebellion, and even restoration. Often we become bogged down in the minutia of the text. How should we interpret these verses? When we vehemently defend our views of end times and what will happen when Jesus Christ returns what gain is there for the collective body of Christ? Continue Reading…
Tag Archive - God’s Presence
Amid the minutia God was, is, and will be: Isaiah 66
Seek to live a life that is an abomination to the wicked: Proverbs 29 and 30
“Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know!” Proverbs 30:4 Will you marvel at that wondrous creation of God? Know today that God is manifested through His handiwork in creating all things. Do not get too consumed with the things of this world because they are all passing away. To Agur son of Jakeh it was totally apparent and simple to know what mattered in life, “Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:7-9 Do desire that all falsehood and lying be removed from you? Do you desire only what is necessary to sustain you? Be vigilantly on guard and do not become so consumed with the world and its enticements so that you forget God.
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Dawning of God’s deliverance shatters darkness: Psalm 130
When we are weighted down by the worries of life and all around us are idols that seek to cause our heart, mind, soul, and strength to fail and run away away from God what are we to do? Are we to run towards the first thing we see that would ease our anxiety or offers us a distraction? Will this thing we choose to run to bring help? When we turn to sin for comfort we will only find deeper despair and a soul filled with an ever increasing emptyness. What ultimately can we do? What should we do? We need to fight every inpluse that compels us to run away from God and wait for Him. Continue Reading…
Had it not been the Lord who was on our side: Psalm 124
Have we tragically overlooked God’s blessing, provision, and presence in our lives? When David states “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side…” in Psalm 124, what is he believing and thinking? Does the prowess of your mind and the skill of your hands cause you to believe that you are the cause of your success? There are many self-help books that promise everything you desire is obtainable if you just learn a few simple steps, act a certain way, or acquire the perfect set of friends. We are gravely mistaken when we believe that our success is birthed from within ourselves. God the creator and sustainer of all creation is intimately involved in everything that occurs throughout creation. Continue Reading…
The measure of distance is a view into your heart: Psalm 61
Is there such a thing as distance between God and His people? We equate to God on our human level because it is naturally the easiest way to view a relationship. When you are in Europe and your family is in the United States you feel the distance keenly and long for the fellowship of your loved ones. After a fight with your spouse you can feel extremely distant from them until you seek reconciliation. When you have been on a long road trip and you are heading home over hundreds of miles you will feel the distance pass very slowly as you long for the rest of home. Why do we feel distant to God at different moments in our life? God is omnipresent and He truly is never distant from us. The distance we perceive is a change in our hearts desire and focus but God has not moved away from us. Continue Reading…
God’s splendor and majesty is greater than you think: Job 37 and 38
In our boastful claims of God’s splendor and majesty do we truly believe what we are saying? In Job 37 does Elihu believe that God’s voice is as thunder? Does he believe that God is all powerful that whatever He speaks instantly comes to fruition? Elihu proclaims the wonder of God but does he stand in awe and wonder of God? What are some of the attributes of God? God is all powerful, all knowing, mighty, holy and the creator of all things. Do I believe these things? Do I think that God is really there? Do I live out my day to day existence knowing that God is actively aware of what is transpiring? When Job, Zophar, Bildad, Eliphaz and Elihu speak of God the creator all things, do they have a proper perspective of God that had transformed their hearts? Do we live with a proper perspective of God? Continue Reading…
Hope secured in the mystery of God’s concern for mankind: Job 23 and 24
Job desires to find God and proclaim the wrongs that have happened in Job chapter 23. Would he really argue his case before God? Could any man stand to argue his case before God? The almighty God is so far above our concerns yet He still cares about us. Worship, awe and reverence would be the only thoughts in our mind were God to appear before us. Job knew and understood that God is infinitely greater than himself but he also knew that God cared about him. Does the knowledge that God cared about him make Job more confused? Is it necessary for us to endure difficult moments for us to appreciate God’s reason for ordaining and allowing the situation to happen? Continue Reading…
Conversations with God in the Garden of Eden: Genesis 3 and 4
I find it amazing how God is showing my simple truths as I read through Genesis. In the garden of Eden God was physically present. I have always known that God was there but to think that he was physically present with Adam and Eve really amazes me. It makes me wonder at what point was God no longer physically present? Was God present in all His glory? What did Adam and Eve talk to God about? Continue Reading…
The Ten Commandments movie makes me wonder sometimes
How is it that the people of Israel while in slavery in Egypt saw all the miracles of God and yet kept turning away. I just watched The Ten Commandments and it struck me as interesting how people who had tangible proof of God in their midst still strayed from Him. It is happening in my life every day. I keep straying from God and turning to desires of the flesh. Well it is a fact that sin nature has poisoned us but I think there is something much deeper happening. Continue Reading…
Ecstatically fantabulous night with Titus
I have to say that tonight was the best night I have had in a coffee shop ever! You might wonder who I was with, what I was drinking, and if she was single. Fortunately or unfortunately this evening didn’t involve anyone of the female persuasion. I was alone drinking mocha’s while jamming to music on my ipod at Caribou Coffee. The most exciting part of my 5 1/2 hours at the coffee shop was spent studying my Bible! I am so excited about all that God has shown me. Continue Reading…
