We are apart of a great story that God has been playing out from eternity past. In this moment we are enveloped by God’s overall purpose for creation. We have been greatly blessed by God through the all surpassing grace that was extended to us upon the cross of Calvary. We are transformed when we place our trust and hope in Jesus Christ death on the cross. There will come a day when Jesus Christ will return and all who hold their hope in Him will be completely renewed and restored. “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” Ecclesiastes 7:8 We may want to look back upon our lives and think that what we once had was of greater worth than the life of faith in Jesus Christ we live today. When we look back upon our presalvific existence with longing we are believing a lie that God is not sufficient for our present circumstances. ”Say not, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” Ecclesiastes 7:10 Continue Reading…
In our presalvific state we needed the grace of God: Ecclesiastes 7 and 8
Trust in the wisdom of God and you will find security: Proverbs 11 and 12
“He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who seeks evil, evil come to him. He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf. He who troubles his own house will inherit wind, and the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls. If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!” Proverbs 11:27-31 Are you real and transparent to the world around you? Do you desire what other people have or are you never content with the things that you possess? We all must be content with who we are and what we have; don’t covet what others have but embrace and remember that God gives us whatever we need. “Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant than he who honors himself and lacks bread.” Proverbs 12:9 Will you be content with what God has granted for your life? Continue Reading…
From a night of despair into a morning of truth and hope: Psalm 43
Where is hope found? Do you ever feel like you need to stand outside, jumping and waving your arms, to get God’s attention? Can our emotions be trusted when we are feeling lost and forgotten? Even with our devotion to God we cannot always keep our emotions away from seasons of despair. When our soul starts to feel the weight of uncertainty what do we do? In Psalm 43, the sons of Korah, cry our to God asking for deliverance, assurance and hope. “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.” Psalm 43:5 Continue Reading…
A fast food faith in God will never satisfy: Psalm 25
Do you enjoy waiting? When you are unemployed is it easy to wait on God to provide work as the money in your bank account runs out? When you are single do you desire to take the best option for a spouse currently around you instead of waiting for God’s perfect match for your life? Sometimes do you wish you could get a fast food faith in God that you could get by driving through a church parking lot instead of a life of faith developed through years of dependance on God in painful moments? The most important aspect of life and faith are governed by waiting. It is not natural for us to wait so how do we learn to endure and trust God? Continue Reading…
Hope and trust grounded on God’s faithfulness: Psalm 4
What do we count on when we look to God for our hope? We recall all the times that God has proved Himself faithful to us and we cling to the truth that He will remain faithful. Why is it so difficult to rest and trust God’s faithfulness? We are surrounded the unfaithfulness inherent to humanity and we all have been let down at some point in our lives. The unfaithfulness we know so well makes it difficult to comprehend a wholly faithful God. How can we look to Him and not at some point feel fear and doubt about what He is purposing to accomplish through 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…
David’s parting words to Solomon before his Death: 1 Kings 1 and 2
“I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, so that the Lord may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ ” 1 Kings 2:2-4 These words were spoken by David to his son Solomon before his death. What words would you speak to your son or daughter before your death? What words of wisdom gleaned from your life would you deem important enough to instill to the generations to come? If you were standing before your parent who was about to die what impact would their final words make on your life? Continue Reading…
God’s sovereignty in tribulation instills clarity: 2 Samuel 15 and 16
Who is David? As I have read through 2 Samuel I have been getting a better picture of this great leader of Israel. My initial view of David prior to this time of quiet reflection about his character was built upon what I heard in sunday school, church services, and bible studies. I remember hearing that David was a man after God’s own heart but I never wondered about him in a deeper way beyond the touted characteristics repeatedly presented to me. The picture that we are presented in 2 Samuel shapes David into a man plagued with personal problems, family problems, and problems ruling over Israel but the consistent trait that David displays through out his life is total dependance upon God. Continue Reading…
Seek the truth because it will always find you out: 2 Samuel 1 and 2
How did Saul the first king of Israel die? In 1 Samuel 31:4 it tells that after Saul had been severely wounded by Philistine archers that he took his own life by falling on his sword. An apparently conflicting story is presented in 2 Samuel 1:1-16 about an Amalekite who said that he killed Saul. Which story is true? Why would an Amalekite be fighting near Saul during the battle? Why would Saul ask an Amalekite to kill him? Wouldn’t Saul be worth more alive to an enemy such as the Amalekite? Why did this man find it so important to bring the crown and bracelet that Saul wore to David? Continue Reading…
Thoughts on God – The insurmountable truth of the Nature of God
I have been reading The Knowledge of The Holy by A.W. Tozer over the past month. I find myself obsessing over who God truly is. How can I a created being know who God is! I feel like I have never fully appreciated the depth and breadth of the knowledge void in my mind regarding the nature of God. I find my mind overloaded as I try to sort out these awesome truths of scripture. I hope to encourage everyone as I take this journey of faith. Continue Reading…
