Google Faith?

     We live in an instant gratification society where there is an abundance of knowledge and information at our finger tips.....literally!-- keystrokes to be exact.  Within an instant, we can find out just about anything about everything known to mankind via a search engine of your choice on the Internet.  I'm not complaining, it is cool, convenient and educational.  While this is not necessarily bad, if we are not cautious, we can easily transition this pattern of expectations within our faith.
     Quite frankly, we want/demand the same results from God through our prayers/petitions.....which can affect our attitude, our heart, and the way we live our lives.  We want to know all the "why's" of this earthly life..........and now!  However, God does not need to offer an explanation to us or answer all our prayers the way we would like........He simply asks us to trust.  Yet, do we? It is a challenge, but we must dismiss the need to know all those "why's", instead lean on God's promises/love. We do not need to discern all of life's trials to have that peace that passes all understanding--we need to know the One that is caring/compassionate-that is our Creator and God.  His wisdom is perfect.   Scripture tells us that God's ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).  In this world of instant knowledge, we must use caution not place our trust in the knowledge, but by placing it solely in our Almighty God.  It is human nature to ask God what our heart desires.......He wants us to.  The challenge is to mature in our faith to really believe and live as God knows what is best for us......and when.  It's difficult to not allow the unknowns to consume us, deteriorating our faith/trust in Him alone. 
     Where is your focus today?  Consumed with doubts and frustrations of the "why's", or upward in our Saviour's embracing love for us?  Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.     Blessings in your pursuit.......TO

Who is GOOD? Drop an "O"

I have lived my life sometimes with a prideful attitude by describing myself  as being a good person.  We all know how God views the proud and haughty!  While it may be true that I have lived a life more comprised of ‘good’ than "bad"-the fact finally hit straight to my heart the more I read the Bible.   NEWSFLASH!!!  I am sinful because I am human flesh-I AM NOT GOOD!-meaning I am not the source of any good things I have done/may do.  Sin is darkness/evil-opposite of God.  Scriptures tell us of the only source of GOOD, and that is our Almighty God.  Hence, who is GOOD-drop an ‘O’ which translates to GOD. God is good!   The more I study, I realize how unworthy I am of God’s goodness, patience, love, forgiveness-yet He freely gives and offers to all-desiring us to choose this obedience way of LIFE .  Good things should flow from those of us claiming to be Christians by God working in us in the form of the Holy Spirit.  We are simply vessels and instruments that God can use for good.  Satan has a knack for making us believe that it is about us-when it simply is not.  In Matthew 19:17 & Mark 10:18, Jesus tells the rich young man that there is only One who is good.  Even Jesus when called ‘Good teacher’, tells this man that no one is good except God alone. God is the source of all that is good. I now try to be more circumspect when I describe myself and/or when tempted to pat myself on the back for something ‘good I have done'!    Blessings in your pursuit…….TO    

Believe

I do not know what the writer had in mind for this song or the implication.  The lyrics do promote an uncanny resemblance  to God's promises.  One comment said the following-It's about God making himself known to a person who has nothing left to live for.  The following is what I  perceive as a derived analogy of the song's chorus. It's what our God is all about and this chorus, as I interpret, provides a reminder regarding the Sovereign God we should strive to serve.  The song is called 'Believe' by one of my favorite bands......Trans Siberian Orchestra (TSO).

CHORUS                                                          ANALOGY

I am the way                                               He is the Way
I am the light                                              He is the Light
I am the dark inside the night                    He is our refuge/protector

I hear your hopes                                       He hears our prayers
I feel your dreams                                      He knows our thoughts
And in the dark I hear your screams          Our earnest pleas/petitions

Don't turn away                                          Be steadfast, keep my eye on Jesus
Just take my hand                                       Humbly seek God, embrace His love
And when you make your final stand         What will my decision be-to follow or disobey

I'll be right there                                         God never leaves us-we have free will/choice
I'll never leave                                            God is faithful to His promises
And all I ask of you is                                  Salvation is readily available to all
Believe                                                          

 

Do you BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for our sins, rose in 3 days, reigns in Heaven with our God?

I challenge each one to embrace the Word of God and grow in your belief- resting in His hope, promises, love and mercy.  Blessings in your pursuit.......TO

                                                                      

HOPE from the "pits of life"

The example of Joseph's life (Gen 37-50) has many facets/plots/twists.....favoritism from his father resulting in sibling jealousy/rejection, thrown into a pit and sold as a slave.  Joseph must have felt alone, abandoned, betrayed, doubt and fearful.  Yet, my guess is that through his dreams he chose to trust God's timing by persevering through these difficulties for a better plan/outcome.  Easy?  I'm certain we all agree.....NO WAY!

Joseph's trust and faithfulness led to him to become second in command in Egypt.  When the drought came (just as he had dreamed about), he could have taken revenge on his brothers.  Instead, he denied self and the tendency hold a grudge.....he chose to forgive and reunite his family.  God used Joseph trials for a greater purpose/good as he was instrumental in making provisions available to many during the drought.  Gen 50:20 says, You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  It is certainly easier to view the story knowing the end result.  We struggle "in the now" as we do not know our future.  While I'm certain Joseph struggled at times, God knew he would persevere and trust to the end.  What a great example of HOPE from the "pits of life".  Of course, that does not mean that everything will work out the way we want.....there will be disappointments, hurt, suffering.....during our time in this world.

In order to get out of "the pits", we must trust while releasing our fear and pain to our awesome God.  We must learn to look at trials not as God not caring or that He does not love us, but as an instrument used towards His ultimate plan for our life......in His timing.  This trusting attitude will reap high rewards (as God has promised)........if we take the step of faith by submitting/releasing to our God.  Blessings in your pursuit.......TO

My Deficiency.......God's Sufficiency

In Exodus 4:10-12, Moses uses what he deems a deficiency as a reason that  perhaps God should choose another to carry out the mission Moses was called to perform.  My guess is, we have all did the very same during our lives- I am guilty.  Whether it be a leadership roll, actively sharing Jesus with others, Bible class teacher, public prayer, etc., I have allowed my quiet (somewhat introvert) personality to hinder my growth/obedience.  As in the great examples of Moses, David, Zacchaeus Saul/Paul........and many others, being adept and possessing the ideal qualities are not a pre-recquisite for serving God.  I like the apropos phrase that states, God uses ordinary individuals to achieve extraordinary results.  We must learn and mature to the point of taking the focus off our limitations (deficiencies) and trusting/relying on God's all sufficient power. 
Where I struggle/lack, God succeeds!
Where I am weak, God is strong! 
Being a faithful follower of our Creator requires us to trust Him and at times leave our comfort zones.  We must place our fears, doubts, insecurities, deficiencies into God's hands.  We must always be cognitive of how our actions and attitudes will shape our children, spouses, other family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.  Am I/Are you the courageous/godly being that God has called each of us to be?  Let's challenge one another to loosen the grip on our insecurities/deficiencies and embrace God's power (Philippians 4:13).   Blessings in your pursuit.......TO

Ready?

Matthew 24:36-44 is challenging....a powerful reminder/awakening.  We often go through each day making plans for our precious life-another day/more time ahead.  Scripture tells us that we are not guaranteed another hour/day-personally.  We also do not know the hour that our Savior will return to take all His children home.
Perhaps some believe this to sound morbid and gloomy.  As Christians,we are to look forward to this reward with anticipation and joy--that is challenging to me.  We get wrapped up in our earthly life with family, friends, church, hobbies, serving. etc.  While these activities are not inherently bad, we can allow them to distract our eternal focus.  Scripture also tells us to be prudent and ready for our unknown appointed time.  Why do we spend so much time and effort planning for our earthly life (vacations, retirement, the tomorrow's of life, careers, etc) and yet we often neglect/overlook preparing for the eternal life?   To the faithful children of God, this is to be a glorious day.........to what extent do I/we truly believe this and live with an attitude that encompasses that confidence!  Are you living your life in a state of readiness?  Blessings in your pursuit.......TO

Materialistic?

Who me?     Are you?
We all have many blessings.  It does seem as though we often measure them in a materialistic/worldly manner.  Sometimes we seek a new car, bigger home, a second/vacation home, all the new technological gadgets, etc.  Not that there are anything in particular wrong with having things..........but it's the attitude that motivates these possessions.  Is our attitude to consume these for "self", or perhaps use them to share with others/build relationships and introduce God's love and Jesus? 
I came across a couple passages recently that challenge my attitude on this subject.  They remind  that things of this earth are temporary and our permanent possession (everlasting life with our God) needs to be the focus.  Read II Peter 3:3-13 and Matthew 6: 20-21.  I ask myself, "what am I storing up and what is the reasoning"  and "where is my heart focused"? 
We all like to keep hold of certain memorabilia to recall memories of the past......again, nothing wrong with that emotional activity.  But if not careful, we can become hoarders and allow material/earthly treasures to consume us.  The challenge is to keep all facets of this life in a godly perspective-to look upward and not an earthly focus.  A selfless, humble and serving attitude is the crux of our walk/journey.  I recently disposed of some memorabilia from my college days- a couple medium size boxes.  I had not looked at it much (if at all) in many years.  It was a little difficult as I sorted through and reminisced........but what was important then, is not so much anymore.  I have not since thought much about all I threw out.  We came into this world with no possessions and we will depart in the same manner........we cannot take it with us.  It's hard to imagine, but I must believe, that things that are important in this life, will lose that attachment in the life to come.  Blessings in your pursuit.......TO