For He has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. (Ps 22:24)
Have you ever pretended to not notice someone in the midst of their plight ... their afflection? It may have been someone needing food or clothing or a ride or help in getting themselves straightened out or help for a loved one. They may have been lost, or fallen, or attacked or captured by addiction. It could have been someone overwhelmed by life or an urgent need. Me too.
God is not like that. He doesn't turn a blind eye or a deaf ear. He doesn't ignore or pretend to be unaware. He doesn't hid his face but listens for an invitation to help. As it is said in Exodus 3, God sees, hears, cares, and responds.
Man may desert us or ignore us, but not God. He is ever listening for the cry that welcomes Him and his activity in our lives.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Let It flow
O God You are awesome in all your ways
It is to You that my spirit does pray
All that is my life is found in You
May your Holy Fire fall on me anew
O Creator Spirit come capture my soul
Overflow my life and make me whole
Father, Son, and Spirit I want to know
Come River of God, let it flow, let it flow, let it flow
It is to You that my spirit does pray
All that is my life is found in You
May your Holy Fire fall on me anew
O Creator Spirit come capture my soul
Overflow my life and make me whole
Father, Son, and Spirit I want to know
Come River of God, let it flow, let it flow, let it flow
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Glory And Belief
"How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? (Jn 5:44 NASB)
Let’s take a moment and ask ourselves which we desire more, to receive glory from man or the glory that is from God. Do we do what we do to be seen by men and be recognized and well thought of by them, or do we do what we do because we love God? Do we do what we do because we want to impress others or give them a certain impression of our selves, or do we do what we do because of who we are? Do we only do what we do only when people can see us doing it, or do we also do what we do when they can‘t?
The Pharisees did nothing in hiddeness. Matthew writes, "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' (Mt 25:5-7 NIV).
Both desires have an effect on our ability to believe God and His Word. One group loves to be seen, recognized, and given honor by man resulting in the inability to believe God because they do not hold Him in honor. The other group loves to be hidden in and see God, resulting in the ability to believe God, trust in Him and His word.
Religion is about performance and being recognized for that performance resulting in rituals. Relationship on the other hand is about knowing and being known, resulting in being and doing. Being is enjoying being His and in relationship with Him and hidden in Him resulting in an overflow of His life through us enabling our doing of the good works which God prepared beforehand for us to walk in (Ep 2:10).
One brings glory to man, the other brings glory to God. One brings the inability to believe, the other increases the ability to believe. One brings death, the other brings Life.
Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. (Jn 12:42-43 NIV)
Let’s take a moment and ask ourselves which we desire more, to receive glory from man or the glory that is from God. Do we do what we do to be seen by men and be recognized and well thought of by them, or do we do what we do because we love God? Do we do what we do because we want to impress others or give them a certain impression of our selves, or do we do what we do because of who we are? Do we only do what we do only when people can see us doing it, or do we also do what we do when they can‘t?
The Pharisees did nothing in hiddeness. Matthew writes, "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' (Mt 25:5-7 NIV).
Both desires have an effect on our ability to believe God and His Word. One group loves to be seen, recognized, and given honor by man resulting in the inability to believe God because they do not hold Him in honor. The other group loves to be hidden in and see God, resulting in the ability to believe God, trust in Him and His word.
Religion is about performance and being recognized for that performance resulting in rituals. Relationship on the other hand is about knowing and being known, resulting in being and doing. Being is enjoying being His and in relationship with Him and hidden in Him resulting in an overflow of His life through us enabling our doing of the good works which God prepared beforehand for us to walk in (Ep 2:10).
One brings glory to man, the other brings glory to God. One brings the inability to believe, the other increases the ability to believe. One brings death, the other brings Life.
Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. (Jn 12:42-43 NIV)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Jesus’ Peace
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (Jn 14:25-27)
I think I can safely say that most of us would like to have peace, we would like to have great peace, all the time. Jesus has said that He has given us this peace, so how do we appropriate it into our lives?
First of all , through the Holy Spirit. If we belong to God, the Holy Spirit is within us, and Romans 14:27 says the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” This is a relationship that must be developed through time spend with God, through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor:13:14).
Also as we do this the fruit of the Holy Spirit will begin to develop and mature in our lives and “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23)
Secondly, through applying ourselves to the Word of God, and applying the Word of God to ourselves. Psalm 119:165 says “Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.” This is not just reading the Word of God, but also letting it speak into our lives and change us and our behavior, being obedient to it, and speaking it over our lives and circumstances.
Thirdly through prayer. Philippians 4:4-7 says “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Fourthly, this is followed very quickly with what we choose to think about. Paul suggests in Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
And let’s not forget Isaiah 26:3 AMP “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
Fifthly, it takes faith. Hebrews 11:65 says “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
If we think our faith is too small, the doing of these things will bring about increased faith, and it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed to get a mountain into the sea or to do the impossible. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] (Jn 14:27 AMP)
I think I can safely say that most of us would like to have peace, we would like to have great peace, all the time. Jesus has said that He has given us this peace, so how do we appropriate it into our lives?
First of all , through the Holy Spirit. If we belong to God, the Holy Spirit is within us, and Romans 14:27 says the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” This is a relationship that must be developed through time spend with God, through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor:13:14).
Also as we do this the fruit of the Holy Spirit will begin to develop and mature in our lives and “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23)
Secondly, through applying ourselves to the Word of God, and applying the Word of God to ourselves. Psalm 119:165 says “Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.” This is not just reading the Word of God, but also letting it speak into our lives and change us and our behavior, being obedient to it, and speaking it over our lives and circumstances.
Thirdly through prayer. Philippians 4:4-7 says “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Fourthly, this is followed very quickly with what we choose to think about. Paul suggests in Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
And let’s not forget Isaiah 26:3 AMP “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
Fifthly, it takes faith. Hebrews 11:65 says “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
If we think our faith is too small, the doing of these things will bring about increased faith, and it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed to get a mountain into the sea or to do the impossible. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] (Jn 14:27 AMP)
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Our Right Now God
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb 13:8)
What confidence we have in the unchanging Jesus Christ. As He met us yesterday, so He is with us right now, and will meet us tomorrow and tomorrow’s eternity. He will not be different in His affections, abilities, promises, purposes, or actions. We can always count on and depend on Him.
If He were the God of only yesterday, then we would have no hope for today. If He were only the God of Eternity, then while we would have a future hope, help for today would be elusive. If He were only the God of today, then without a record of His attributes, faithfulness, and active love towards us, and no promise of tomorrow, our dependence upon Him would be hindered.
However, we have a yesterday of His dealings with His chosen, a record of His actions, faithfulness, active love, attributes, and promises. We have a today in which to reflect upon Him, call upon Him, depend upon Him, and experience Him, knowing that He has not changed nor will He ever change. We also have a tomorrow in which He will be the same as He was yesterday, today, and for every tomorrow there will ever be.
We need a God today who is active today, available today, caring today, faithful today, dependable today and who was all that yesterday. We need a God who is unchanging in His attributes, His love, His purposes, His promises, and His character and who will be the same way tomorrow. We need a God who will shepherd us until we depart this life and who will then usher us into the timelessness of eternity, where we will live in His presence forever. He was with us yesterday, He is with us right now, He will be with us tomorrow, and forever. He is our right now God.
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts …" (Heb 3:15)
What confidence we have in the unchanging Jesus Christ. As He met us yesterday, so He is with us right now, and will meet us tomorrow and tomorrow’s eternity. He will not be different in His affections, abilities, promises, purposes, or actions. We can always count on and depend on Him.
If He were the God of only yesterday, then we would have no hope for today. If He were only the God of Eternity, then while we would have a future hope, help for today would be elusive. If He were only the God of today, then without a record of His attributes, faithfulness, and active love towards us, and no promise of tomorrow, our dependence upon Him would be hindered.
However, we have a yesterday of His dealings with His chosen, a record of His actions, faithfulness, active love, attributes, and promises. We have a today in which to reflect upon Him, call upon Him, depend upon Him, and experience Him, knowing that He has not changed nor will He ever change. We also have a tomorrow in which He will be the same as He was yesterday, today, and for every tomorrow there will ever be.
We need a God today who is active today, available today, caring today, faithful today, dependable today and who was all that yesterday. We need a God who is unchanging in His attributes, His love, His purposes, His promises, and His character and who will be the same way tomorrow. We need a God who will shepherd us until we depart this life and who will then usher us into the timelessness of eternity, where we will live in His presence forever. He was with us yesterday, He is with us right now, He will be with us tomorrow, and forever. He is our right now God.
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts …" (Heb 3:15)
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