- Conversion in Atlanta
- Removal of doubt in Atlanta
- Getting through financial difficulties in 2008-2009
- Dave being led to company
- People we have hired in company
- Not going through first remodel
- Mr Cotton sitting beside me on plane
- Going to Psalms - Be still and know that I am God
- Lawsuit in CA
- People God has put in my life
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Milksop or Noble
Don't be a milksop. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the noble life of a disciple of Jesus in actual things. It is always necessary to make an effort to be noble.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate because strait is the gate and narrow is the way
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate because strait is the gate and narrow is the way
Monday, July 2, 2012
Apprehended by God
Philippians 3:12-14 I press on to possess that perfection for which Chris Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prized for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Never choose to be a worker; but when God has put His call on you, woe to you if you turn to the right or to the left. What you are to do and to say is determined by God not by your audience and your own inclinations. Never water down the word of God, preach it in its undiluted sternness.
But when you come to personal dealing with your fellow men, remember who you are - not a special being from heaven, but a sinner saved by grace.
Keep your soul steadfastly related to God.
Never choose to be a worker; but when God has put His call on you, woe to you if you turn to the right or to the left. What you are to do and to say is determined by God not by your audience and your own inclinations. Never water down the word of God, preach it in its undiluted sternness.
But when you come to personal dealing with your fellow men, remember who you are - not a special being from heaven, but a sinner saved by grace.
Keep your soul steadfastly related to God.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Receiving One's self in the Fires of Sorrow
Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness but it does not always make it man better. Suffering either givs me my self or destroys my self. You cannot receive your self in success, you lose your head; you cannot receive your self in monotony, you grouse. The way to find your self is in the fires of sorrow. Why it should be so is another matter, but that it is so true in the Scriptures and human experience. You always know the man who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, You are certain you can go to him in trouble and find that he has the ample pleasure leisure for you. If man has not been to the fires of sorrow, he is apt to be contemptuous he has the time for you. If you receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God make you nourishment for other people.
"What shall I say? tahter, save me from this hour? But for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name." John 12:27-28
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Sweating Outcomes
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Sweating Outcomes
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Wednesday, April 25 2012
"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for He grants sleep to those He loves." - Psalm 127:2
Coming into the Promised Land in business will change the way you and I view our work. No longer will we see getting up early and staying up late as God's way. Living in the Promised Land in work means we know that God is the source of our provision and that our work is an act of worship to Him. Provision is a by-product, not an end in itself. Work is no longer something that must be sweated and toiled upon to make ends meet. "Could this really be true?" you might be saying. God has made it clear that obedience is the assurance of provision. Whenever we go beyond the normal workday due to fear of non-provision, we are operating in unbelief. We are saying that it is up to us to make things happen. Sure, there are times when we work longer hours due to a deadline, but we must be sure the motive is not out of fear of loss or fear of non-provision. If we are obedient to what God has called us to, He will provide our every need. This can be a hard lesson for goal-oriented workplace believers.
I recall coming into this understanding. I had been a workaholic. Long hours were common. Then God shook up my world and I was challenged by a friend to examine my motives for working long hours. I realized the source of those long hours was fear. Once I came into this understanding, I refused to work long hours even though the natural man would tell me I'd never make things happen if I worked a normal work week. Again, this reasoning is based on a lack of faith. If we are obedient to what God has called each of us to, we will not lack. At times it may be less than what we might like; at other times it may be more than we deserve. These are God's ways.
The Bible tells us to come out of Babylon. Babylon is a system of work and philosophy that is contrary to God's ways. Are you operating in any aspect of work from a Babylonian value system? Ask the Lord to reveal this to you. Begin to walk in the freedom He has given us in our work life.
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Sunday, October 16, 2011
All the Influence of My Life; John Hawkins
Why was Christ here?
I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. Come now; let us leave. John 14:30-31
Why am I here and who do I want to be here
In understanding Christian influence in secular contexts, we must answer first why we are here and who we are to be, before we answer what we are to do.
1. Blend in
2. Hide out
3. Play victim
4. Establish our boudaries
5. Honor God and Serve His Purposes
When people are holy, they are holy for the same reason: they belong to God, serve him and function with respect to his purposes.
Why are you here?
I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. Come now; let us leave. John 14:30-31
Why am I here and who do I want to be here
In understanding Christian influence in secular contexts, we must answer first why we are here and who we are to be, before we answer what we are to do.
1. Blend in
2. Hide out
3. Play victim
4. Establish our boudaries
5. Honor God and Serve His Purposes
When people are holy, they are holy for the same reason: they belong to God, serve him and function with respect to his purposes.
Why are you here?
- To glorify God in all that we do (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 10:31, 1 Peter 4:10-11)
- To promote what is good, restrain what is evil and provide for our needs and the needs of others
- To help other come to faith in Christ and grow in that faith
- For my faith and character to grow (Hebrews 11:6, Romans 5:3-5)
By God's grace,
To step forward as God's man,
In my spheres on influence,
To serve His purposes,
For His glory.
He is Lord of All
No Single piece of our mental world is to be hermetically sealed off from the rest, and there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: "Mine!"
He Must Have All the Influence of My Life
"And if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army today, it is because God has all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life."
General William Booth
Founder of the Salvation Army
The Greatness of a man's power is His Surrender
"I LOVE THE FATHER AND I WILL DO ANYTHING HE ASKS ME TO DO"
Hebrews 10-12
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
God’s Recruitment Strategy for Leaders
God’s Recruitment Strategy for Leaders
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Wednesday, August 24 2011
“Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.” Acts 9:8a
When God calls one of His servants into service, there is often much travail. There are many examples where God makes His presence known through circumstances that tax the individual to his very soul.
Consider Paul, who was stricken blind on the Damascus road.
Consider Peter; when he denied Jesus after the crucifixion, he was in total despair.
Consider Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were thrown into the fiery furnace.
Consider Daniel, who was thrown into the lions’ den.
Consider David, who was forced to flee his former employer for many years and lived as a fugitive.
It may seem strange to us that God uses such incredible adversity to prepare His servants for greater service, but this is God’s way. God knows that the human heart is incapable of voluntarily stepping into situations that take us beyond our comfort zone. He intentionally brings us into hard places to prove us and to drive us deeper into the soil of His grace.
In arid regions of the world, trees cannot survive unless their roots grow deeper to where the water table can be found. Once they reach the water, these trees become stronger than any tree that can be found in tropical climates. Their root systems ensure that they can withstand any storm. In the same way, God brings us into extremely difficult situations in order to prove His power and drive our spiritual roots deeper.
Friend, God may take you through times when you will question His love for you. In such times, you must cling to His coattail so that you see His purposes in it. Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For in just a very little while, ‘He who is coming will come and will not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him’” (Hebrews 10:36-38).
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Wednesday, August 24 2011
“Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.” Acts 9:8a
When God calls one of His servants into service, there is often much travail. There are many examples where God makes His presence known through circumstances that tax the individual to his very soul.
Consider Paul, who was stricken blind on the Damascus road.
Consider Peter; when he denied Jesus after the crucifixion, he was in total despair.
Consider Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were thrown into the fiery furnace.
Consider Daniel, who was thrown into the lions’ den.
Consider David, who was forced to flee his former employer for many years and lived as a fugitive.
It may seem strange to us that God uses such incredible adversity to prepare His servants for greater service, but this is God’s way. God knows that the human heart is incapable of voluntarily stepping into situations that take us beyond our comfort zone. He intentionally brings us into hard places to prove us and to drive us deeper into the soil of His grace.
In arid regions of the world, trees cannot survive unless their roots grow deeper to where the water table can be found. Once they reach the water, these trees become stronger than any tree that can be found in tropical climates. Their root systems ensure that they can withstand any storm. In the same way, God brings us into extremely difficult situations in order to prove His power and drive our spiritual roots deeper.
Friend, God may take you through times when you will question His love for you. In such times, you must cling to His coattail so that you see His purposes in it. Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For in just a very little while, ‘He who is coming will come and will not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him’” (Hebrews 10:36-38).
Friday, August 12, 2011
Crucify Yourself or Crucify Your Relationships
How can we be led by the truth and not our feelings?
The first is that,one way or the other, we will have to be broken. We will either be broken by a lie or by the truth. Jesus could have walked away from his sacrifice, but in doing so He would have actually ended up being alienated from His Father's will and heart. He had a choice - to resist the cross and leave the world a broken place, or else to be broken Himself so that the world might be drawn near and live.
The second is to unwittingly affirm the underlying message of the cross that even in the most evil expressions of life, God must be somewhere within reach. As we look around at the feeling-less atrocities we wonder, Where is God? And the answer comes: He is right in the middle -at the receiving end of our atrocities. When we come face to face with the cross, we have to make a choice: We either recognize the implications and bring ourselves, our passions and all that we are, to be crucified with Christ so that we might live within the sound of His voice and feel of His heart, or we walk away from the cross feeling alienated from God and others. We hear so much about coming to Christ but not enough about being crucified with him.
Something has to die, either the lie to which the feelings are subject, the truth to which those feelings must conform. Do we trust God and His truths, or do we trust our feelings and this worlds promises for the moment. Where do you go? The apostle Paul made a very simple statement to Timothy: "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." 2 Tim 1:12
The first is that,one way or the other, we will have to be broken. We will either be broken by a lie or by the truth. Jesus could have walked away from his sacrifice, but in doing so He would have actually ended up being alienated from His Father's will and heart. He had a choice - to resist the cross and leave the world a broken place, or else to be broken Himself so that the world might be drawn near and live.
The second is to unwittingly affirm the underlying message of the cross that even in the most evil expressions of life, God must be somewhere within reach. As we look around at the feeling-less atrocities we wonder, Where is God? And the answer comes: He is right in the middle -at the receiving end of our atrocities. When we come face to face with the cross, we have to make a choice: We either recognize the implications and bring ourselves, our passions and all that we are, to be crucified with Christ so that we might live within the sound of His voice and feel of His heart, or we walk away from the cross feeling alienated from God and others. We hear so much about coming to Christ but not enough about being crucified with him.
Something has to die, either the lie to which the feelings are subject, the truth to which those feelings must conform. Do we trust God and His truths, or do we trust our feelings and this worlds promises for the moment. Where do you go? The apostle Paul made a very simple statement to Timothy: "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." 2 Tim 1:12
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Language of Obedience
Obedience builds and strengthens faith. We see this several times in the Scriptures. Moses,Ezekiel, Hosea and Jonah did not fell like doing what God had asked them to do. In fact, every heartbeat within them was impelling them do do otherwise. Yet God said they were to obey. The remedy was not to do God's will becuase they felt like doing it, but just to do it and their faith would be strengthened.
When Moses demanded proof that God has indeed called him, God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain" (Ex 3:12) The proof of God's call was after the obedience, not before.
This language of Obedience may be the most difficult of all the languages we speak, one that rises above our feelings but utters volumes of faith. There are times when a difference arises between my wife and me. I have watched her stand tall at those times, and I have seen triumph of her love vanquish any dark and petty inclination. She is never afraid to reach out and resist the ugly trap of stubbornness.We do, we obey, we yield, we submit to God, even when our natural inclination wants to drag us in the opposite direction.
Under the threat of death Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood their ground and were sure God would deliver them. "But even if he does not," they said "we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods and worship the image of gold you have set up" (Dan 3:18) I suggest that our secular society has lost its ability to feel God because it has lost its ability to obey Him.
Psalm 119:33-34
33 Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.[a]
34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.
From "Masterwork" week of July 24th, Cries of the Heart
When Moses demanded proof that God has indeed called him, God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain" (Ex 3:12) The proof of God's call was after the obedience, not before.
This language of Obedience may be the most difficult of all the languages we speak, one that rises above our feelings but utters volumes of faith. There are times when a difference arises between my wife and me. I have watched her stand tall at those times, and I have seen triumph of her love vanquish any dark and petty inclination. She is never afraid to reach out and resist the ugly trap of stubbornness.We do, we obey, we yield, we submit to God, even when our natural inclination wants to drag us in the opposite direction.
Under the threat of death Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood their ground and were sure God would deliver them. "But even if he does not," they said "we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods and worship the image of gold you have set up" (Dan 3:18) I suggest that our secular society has lost its ability to feel God because it has lost its ability to obey Him.
Psalm 119:33-34
33 Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.[a]
34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.
From "Masterwork" week of July 24th, Cries of the Heart
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain
"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
The secret of a sound body is a sound heart, and the prayer of the Holy Ghost for us is, that we "may be in health and prosper even as our soul prospers."
We find Paul in the Epistles to the Philippians expressing a sublime and holy indifference to the question of life or death. Indeed he is in a real strait, whether he would prefer "to depart and be with Christ," or to remain still in the flesh.
The former would indeed be his sweetest preference, but the latter would be at the same time a joyful service. His only object in wanting to live is to be a blessing. "To abide in the flesh is more needful to you."
Having reached this state of heart, it is beautiful to notice how quickly he rises to the victorious faith necessary to claim perfect strength and health. Because it is more needful to you that I abide in the flesh, he adds, "I know that I shall continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of faith." Lord, help me to-day to "count not my life dear unto myself that I may finish my course with joy and the ministry that I have received of Jesus."
The secret of a sound body is a sound heart, and the prayer of the Holy Ghost for us is, that we "may be in health and prosper even as our soul prospers."
We find Paul in the Epistles to the Philippians expressing a sublime and holy indifference to the question of life or death. Indeed he is in a real strait, whether he would prefer "to depart and be with Christ," or to remain still in the flesh.
The former would indeed be his sweetest preference, but the latter would be at the same time a joyful service. His only object in wanting to live is to be a blessing. "To abide in the flesh is more needful to you."
Having reached this state of heart, it is beautiful to notice how quickly he rises to the victorious faith necessary to claim perfect strength and health. Because it is more needful to you that I abide in the flesh, he adds, "I know that I shall continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of faith." Lord, help me to-day to "count not my life dear unto myself that I may finish my course with joy and the ministry that I have received of Jesus."
Monday, July 18, 2011
You will Receive from the Lord
Phillipians 6:8 - Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord Whether he is a slave or free
Throughout the Bible, the Lord promises that he will generously reward His children for "whatever good" they do, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Faithful service yields staggering blessing.
Throughout the Bible, the Lord promises that he will generously reward His children for "whatever good" they do, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Faithful service yields staggering blessing.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Taking Care of our earthly vessel
We are to take care of the bodies God has given us. It is a gift from Him. He has given us the earth to subdue it and to eat the fruits of it. In the US we live in gluttony. We have fresh fruits and vegetables to nourish our bodies. If you go to the grocery store 80% of what you see is processed. We need to turn from our ways and take care of our bodies.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
God created the earth; HE told us to fill the earth and Subdue it
What an amazing God we have. His word is living and active. I am in complete awe of the every aspect of it and how it controls everything in the Universe.
Genesis 1:28 has been in my mind over the past few weeks. I kept thinking about how it says "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." God has created the earth for us to subdue it. To learn about it, to figure out how we can be a part of it and learn about God through it. So many times this world "Earth" subdues us with its wordly pleasures. But we are supposed to subdue it by God's power. We are not subject to the earth when we have the power of God, the earth is subject to Him and he has created us to subdue it.
Genesis 1:28 has been in my mind over the past few weeks. I kept thinking about how it says "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." God has created the earth for us to subdue it. To learn about it, to figure out how we can be a part of it and learn about God through it. So many times this world "Earth" subdues us with its wordly pleasures. But we are supposed to subdue it by God's power. We are not subject to the earth when we have the power of God, the earth is subject to Him and he has created us to subdue it.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Scriptures on Evil of Humanity
Luke 11:13 (King James Version)
13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Genesis 8:21 (New International Version)
21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though [a] every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
Ephesians 4:18 (New International Version)
18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (New International Version)
4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Genesis 8:21 (New International Version)
21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though [a] every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
Ephesians 4:18 (New International Version)
18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (New International Version)
4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Giving up Things so you cannot return - 1 Kings 19
Sunny Shelton in Sunday school yesterday taught on 1 Kings 19. In it Elijah was in a desolate place. He was running for his life and he was in a cave - a dark place - and wanted to get out. God appeared to him in a silent whisper not a huge exciting event. God wants us to listen to him on a daily basis, he meets us where we work, in what we are doing and urges us to take action. If we don't we may stay in that dark place for a prolonged period.
Elijah went to anoint Elisha as his replacement as a prophet. When he told Elisha, Elisha was plowing fields with his oxen. Elisha went back to his family, slaughtered the oxen so he could not return back to his old profession and became Elijah's attendant. He left no remains of his former work that he could return to, he went all in.
If we are going to be God's servants, we are going to have to listen to his gentle whispers and not expect fireworks to go off every time we are called to do something. We also have to give up things in our past, comforts and pleasures that we once depended on. We have to set it up so we cannot return to them if we know God has called us. We need to go all in .
Elijah went to anoint Elisha as his replacement as a prophet. When he told Elisha, Elisha was plowing fields with his oxen. Elisha went back to his family, slaughtered the oxen so he could not return back to his old profession and became Elijah's attendant. He left no remains of his former work that he could return to, he went all in.
If we are going to be God's servants, we are going to have to listen to his gentle whispers and not expect fireworks to go off every time we are called to do something. We also have to give up things in our past, comforts and pleasures that we once depended on. We have to set it up so we cannot return to them if we know God has called us. We need to go all in .
Monday, June 21, 2010
Identity Lyrics - Lecrae
I'm not the shoes I wear
I'm not the clothes I buy
I'm not the house I live in
I'm not the car I drive
I'm not the job I work
You can't define my worth
By nothing on God's green earth
My identity is found in Christ
I'm not the clothes I buy
I'm not the house I live in
I'm not the car I drive
I'm not the job I work
You can't define my worth
By nothing on God's green earth
My identity is found in Christ
Friday, June 18, 2010
Staying Faithful
Faithfulness in Our Calling
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Friday, June 18 2010
"He went out to meet Asa and said to him, 'Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.'" - 2 Chronicles 15:2
Asa was the king of Judah from 912-872 B.C. He reigned for 41 years and was known as a good king who served the Lord with great zeal. He reformed many things. He broke down idol worship to foreign gods; he put away male prostitutes and even removed his own mother from being queen because she worshiped an idol. The Scriptures say that as long as he sought the Lord, the Lord prospered his reign.
However, Asa was not totally faithful in his calling. There came a time in his life when he made a decision to no longer trust in the God of Israel. He lost his confidence in God as his deliverer. The prophet Hanani came to Asa to inform him that God's blessing was no longer on his life because of an ungodly alliance he had made.
Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war (2 Chronicles 16:8-9).
There are no guarantees that if we began well we will finish well. The life of Asa tells us this. It is only through God's grace that we can be faithful to our calling. Each of us is capable of falling away from God. Pray that God will keep you faithful to the purposes He has for your life. He strengthens those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Friday, June 18 2010
"He went out to meet Asa and said to him, 'Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.'" - 2 Chronicles 15:2
Asa was the king of Judah from 912-872 B.C. He reigned for 41 years and was known as a good king who served the Lord with great zeal. He reformed many things. He broke down idol worship to foreign gods; he put away male prostitutes and even removed his own mother from being queen because she worshiped an idol. The Scriptures say that as long as he sought the Lord, the Lord prospered his reign.
However, Asa was not totally faithful in his calling. There came a time in his life when he made a decision to no longer trust in the God of Israel. He lost his confidence in God as his deliverer. The prophet Hanani came to Asa to inform him that God's blessing was no longer on his life because of an ungodly alliance he had made.
Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war (2 Chronicles 16:8-9).
There are no guarantees that if we began well we will finish well. The life of Asa tells us this. It is only through God's grace that we can be faithful to our calling. Each of us is capable of falling away from God. Pray that God will keep you faithful to the purposes He has for your life. He strengthens those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The Cost Of Broken Covenants
The Cost of Broken Covenants
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Monday, May 31 2010
"During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord." - 2 Samuel 21:1a
There was a famine in the land, and David equated that famine to the blessing or lack of blessing from God. He sought God to know why there was a famine. The Lord did not take long to answer: "It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death" (2 Sam. 21:1b). Many years earlier, when Joshua entered the Promised Land, the Israelites were tricked by the Gibeonites into believing they were travelers when they were actually enemies of Israel. The Gibeonites tricked Israel into making a peace treaty with them. It was one of the first major mistakes Israel made after entering the Promised Land. As a result of the peace treaty, the Gibeonites were kept as slaves to Israel. This was never God's intention for Israel. He had wanted Israel to destroy all their enemies, but they made an error in judgment that required that they honor a covenant with the Gibeonites.
Saul made a decision to disregard this covenant with the Gibeonites and sought to annihilate them. David sensed there was something preventing God's blessing on Israel. As a nation they had violated a covenant made before God. Now they were reaping the consequences.
There are two things we can learn from this story. First, when we make a covenant, God expects us to fulfill it. God is a covenant maker. He made one with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He made one with each of us through Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are numerous regarding the importance of honoring our commitments.
Second, God is a very longsuffering God. He gave Israel many years of grace before He exercised judgment for their sin. However, there always comes a day when God must uphold His standard of righteousness.
Are you failing to walk in God's blessing due to some failed commitment? Calamities can befall us for many reasons; sin can be one of them. In the case of Israel, David had to make things right with the Gibeonites. When he did this, God removed the famine, and Israel again was prosperous. When you feel you lack God's blessing on your life, ask the Lord if there are any past - generation sins that you may need to repent of. He may be waiting on us before He can release His blessing on our lives.
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Monday, May 31 2010
"During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord." - 2 Samuel 21:1a
There was a famine in the land, and David equated that famine to the blessing or lack of blessing from God. He sought God to know why there was a famine. The Lord did not take long to answer: "It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death" (2 Sam. 21:1b). Many years earlier, when Joshua entered the Promised Land, the Israelites were tricked by the Gibeonites into believing they were travelers when they were actually enemies of Israel. The Gibeonites tricked Israel into making a peace treaty with them. It was one of the first major mistakes Israel made after entering the Promised Land. As a result of the peace treaty, the Gibeonites were kept as slaves to Israel. This was never God's intention for Israel. He had wanted Israel to destroy all their enemies, but they made an error in judgment that required that they honor a covenant with the Gibeonites.
Saul made a decision to disregard this covenant with the Gibeonites and sought to annihilate them. David sensed there was something preventing God's blessing on Israel. As a nation they had violated a covenant made before God. Now they were reaping the consequences.
There are two things we can learn from this story. First, when we make a covenant, God expects us to fulfill it. God is a covenant maker. He made one with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He made one with each of us through Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are numerous regarding the importance of honoring our commitments.
Second, God is a very longsuffering God. He gave Israel many years of grace before He exercised judgment for their sin. However, there always comes a day when God must uphold His standard of righteousness.
Are you failing to walk in God's blessing due to some failed commitment? Calamities can befall us for many reasons; sin can be one of them. In the case of Israel, David had to make things right with the Gibeonites. When he did this, God removed the famine, and Israel again was prosperous. When you feel you lack God's blessing on your life, ask the Lord if there are any past - generation sins that you may need to repent of. He may be waiting on us before He can release His blessing on our lives.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Be Strong and Courageos
"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6, NAS
One of the greatest leaders of the twentieth century thought he was a failure at the age of forty. Harry Truman despaired that he would never amount to anything as he struggled for twelve years to pay off the debts from his failed clothing business. Little could he have imagined that just two decades later, on a warm spring day, he would receive a phone call that would change his life and forever list him among the great men who would help to change the world. April 12, 1945, Truman took the oath of office and became the thirty-third President of the United States. He was quoted as saying, "I feel as though the moon and all the stars and all the planets have fallen upon me. Please . . . give me your prayers. I need them very much."
John Maxwell writes about failing backward and failing forward. Harry Truman failed forward. We fail backward, Maxwell says, when: (1) failure keeps us from trying again, (2) we become negative or bitter. (3) we make excuses and blame others. We fail forward, he says, when: (1) we learn from our failure, (2) we discover our own true self, (3) we turn everything over to God.
Our text begins with an encouragement to "be strong and courageous." It reminds us not to fear. More importantly, it teaches us to trust in God-commit ourselves to confidence in a God who is infinitely more powerful than the forces of failure. We are taught that "God is the one who goes with you." He is incapable of failure! Moreover, His perfect success is your companion. "He will not fail you or forsake you."
Take Maxwell's inventory. Are you failing backward or failing forward? We all fail. Not one of us is immune to the very "fallen" characteristic of failure.
Deuteronomy 31:6, NAS
One of the greatest leaders of the twentieth century thought he was a failure at the age of forty. Harry Truman despaired that he would never amount to anything as he struggled for twelve years to pay off the debts from his failed clothing business. Little could he have imagined that just two decades later, on a warm spring day, he would receive a phone call that would change his life and forever list him among the great men who would help to change the world. April 12, 1945, Truman took the oath of office and became the thirty-third President of the United States. He was quoted as saying, "I feel as though the moon and all the stars and all the planets have fallen upon me. Please . . . give me your prayers. I need them very much."
John Maxwell writes about failing backward and failing forward. Harry Truman failed forward. We fail backward, Maxwell says, when: (1) failure keeps us from trying again, (2) we become negative or bitter. (3) we make excuses and blame others. We fail forward, he says, when: (1) we learn from our failure, (2) we discover our own true self, (3) we turn everything over to God.
Our text begins with an encouragement to "be strong and courageous." It reminds us not to fear. More importantly, it teaches us to trust in God-commit ourselves to confidence in a God who is infinitely more powerful than the forces of failure. We are taught that "God is the one who goes with you." He is incapable of failure! Moreover, His perfect success is your companion. "He will not fail you or forsake you."
Take Maxwell's inventory. Are you failing backward or failing forward? We all fail. Not one of us is immune to the very "fallen" characteristic of failure.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Ministry to Men
I will start the ministry to help men beak the chains of LUST.
"I am dancing before the Lord who chose me above your father and all his family. He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes." 2 Samuel 7:21-22
Proverbs 17:9 Lover prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends
"I am dancing before the Lord who chose me above your father and all his family. He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes." 2 Samuel 7:21-22
Proverbs 17:9 Lover prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends
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