Confidence in God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjbl4gkJSVI - Who Am I - Casting Crowns
Probably, at one time or another, most of us have had a confidence problem. During those
times, we feel worthless, unloved, forgotten. That's our perception, of course, and not reality.
It can happen to anyone of us at anytime - anytime when we listen the lies of the Enemy instead of the Voice of God, our Creator and Father.
Many people consider Elijah the greatest prophet that every lived. He was a prophet during the reign
of King Ahab who was possibly the most wicked king of all times. Elijah walked with God. He performed amazing miracles, even bringing a young boy back to life. If anyone should have had confidence in himself and in the power and might of God, it was Elijah. But Elijah was not unlike me. He had moments when he was afraid, when he forgot that God would never leave nor forsake him.
This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Once again, the people have turned from Jehovah God
and instead, worshipped Baal.There's been a drought in the land which is interesting considering that
Baal is supposed to be the god over storms and nature. Hmmmm... One would think "rain" might fall
under his power. But Baal had not provided rain for a long time (or ever!). Our mighty God has a way of getting our attention when we take our eyes off Him. Of course, it was Jehovah God, the only true God, who controlled nature and determined whether to send rain or not. And HE had withheld rain for a long time.
Finally, at just the right time, the LORD sent Elijah to King Ahab with a challenge.
1 Kings 18 -
Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
“You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead. 19 Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.”
20 So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets. 23 Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it. 24 Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people agreed.
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You go first, for there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood.”
26 So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.
27 About noontime Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!”
28 So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out. 29 They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response.
30 Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!” They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. 31 He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel, 32 and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons. 33 He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood.
Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.”
34 After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said, 35 and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. 37 O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
Don't you just want to stand up and cheer! Or maybe, like the Israelites, we should fall to our knees, with face to the ground and worship Almighty God. This was a powerful demonstration of God's power. It should have settled the question once and for all for King Ahab and the people - "The LORD - He is God! Yes, the LORD is God!"
1 Corinthians 10:12 -
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
Just a few short verses later, we see Elijah, who has just witnessed the power of Almighty God over the Enemy, hiding, afraid of a woman - wanting to die rather than face another day. Where is that powerful Prophet who called down fire from Heaven?
1 Kings 19:1-4
When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
When I read this passage, I think, good grief, Elijah! What are you thinking? If God is on your side, how in the world can you be afraid of Jezebel? God has just shown you His power and might, and you're afraid of a woman?
But don't we do the same thing? Have you ever noticed that we are most susceptible to discouragement when we're coming off a great victory? When a person accepts Jesus, our single greatest moment, it is often followed by an attack by the Enemy. He can't stand for us to praise God, to lift up His Name, to accept His Son as our Savior! So he tries all kinds of tricks and schemes to defeat us and render us ineffective for the Kingdom.
Right after Jesus was baptized, what happened? He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted for 40 days and nights. Jesus had just announced to the world that His ministry was beginning, and the first thing that happens is "temptation".
Jesus overcame that time in the wilderness by keeping His eyes on His Father. He didn't answer the enemy with His earthly wisdom and strength - at that time, His strength was probably failing; he had fasted for 40 days. No Jesus trusted His Father's Words and His Father's strength. He didn't rely on His own abilities. There's a powerful lesson there for us.
When I feel powerless and ineffective, I have two choices. I can wallow in my defeat and discouragement, like Elijah, or I can look to God and give Him my worries and concerns. I can imitate Jesus.
Instead of listening to the lies that the Enemy whispers in my ear:
"You are such a loser!" "You are worthless." "Once again, you've managed to mess everything up!" "You're never going to get out of this mess." "Why should God bother with you? You're nothing. He's got much more important things to take care of."
I can listen to my Father. He tells me a completely different story.
Psalm 139
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you;
your enemies misuse your name.
21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
for your enemies are my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life
I am a much loved child of God. I matter to my Father. He has a plan for me, just for me. And He has watched every moment of my life, sometimes allowing difficult circumstances because He could use them to help draw me closer to Him. He's shown Himself so powerfully in my life, so many times. I choose to trust Him, not just in those powerful moments when I feel His presence, but also in those times when I feel so discouraged and forgotten. That's what faith is, believing when you cannot see.
Jesus showed us how to face the temptations. He turned to God's Word.
Luke 4
The Temptation of Jesus
1 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.
3 Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”
4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”
5 Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”
8 Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”
9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! 10 For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you.
11 And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”
12 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.
This morning, I was feeling discouraged. I had a tough day yesterday, my underwriter would not call me or email me back, and I tried several times to get a response on a loan I'm trying to close. The loan in question is for my new boss, and I definitely don't want to drop the ball on this loan. I have to get an answer from the underwriter to get the loan closed. My boss is upset because the underwriter isn't calling me back. Me, too. But all the way home last night, all I could think about was this: What if I have failed to do what I was supposed to do and it's my fault the underwriter isn't calling me back? I hate to admit it but I have been worrying over this situation. I know I'm not supposed to worry, but I don't want to fail. I don't want to be the one who "messed up". How am I going to respond today if I didn't do what I was supposed to do?
Defeat and fear can be overwhelming when we let ourselves dwell on things that we should have done differently. Just last week I was feeling so strong and confident about my new job. Now... I'm afraid I missed something that has caused a loan not to close when it should have. I feel like Elijah, defeated and afraid of the future. But when I took time to be in God's presence, He reminded me of all the times He's provided when I thought there was no way I would survive. He reminded me of my friends, Oscar and Emma, and how they trust in Him because He has always been faithful. He reminded me that I have no one to fear when He is with me and HE is always with me.
God put Psalm 139 in front of me. As I read it, once again, I knew HE was telling me: "I know,Carol. I know exactly what's happening. I've seen everything, and I have already made a way for you. I will not leave you to face this alone. I am with you always - from the time you were conceived even until now. Trust Me. I have a plan for you, and it's greater than You can imagine. Keep your eyes on Me, precious daughter. I'm right here."
I feel better now, because I've stopped listening to the lies. Instead, I'm listening to my Father who loves me and will get me through whatever may come. And these tough moments are in my life to remind me that I am not in control. I can't do this life without Him. The moment I think I've got it all figured out, that's when He gives me a little nudge and says "Trust Me, not yourself, Carol. I won't ever let you down."
Father GOD, Your Word says that You will never leave me, but right now I feel so alone. I'm afraid of what lies before me. Help me to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that You are with me. You are my Provider and my Protector, my Good Shepherd. The storms and the trials of this life feel as if they are going to overcome me, but You have overcome the world and will not let me be defeated. You are by my side, I need not fear. You are for me, what can man do against me? You have given me the spirit of power, love and self-discipline, and I revel in this knowledge. Your Spirit who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. I will not fear, for You, O God, are with me. My confidence is in You and You alone. Fill me with Your presence and give me courage as I greet this day. Forgive me when I fail to trust You for everything. I pray all these things in Jesus' Name. Amen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1jRcpFEIzs - He Knows My Name - McRaes
It's not about me.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Staying Strong
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
This morning, I was going to send this out in my Monday morning devotional, but I just ran out of time. This new job is really cutting into my free time. = ) I really wasn't feeling a need to "stay strong" but it's always good to remember the message.
First thing this morning, I had an email from Oscar - the kids don't have any food again. I told Larry we just have to send some money. Oscar's kids need food and I can't stand it that they don't know where the next meal will come from. Well, let me say, I didn't know where their next meal would come from. I'm sure Oscar knew God would provide. He always trusts and God is always faithful to make a way. Well today, I figured God was giving Larry and me the opportunity to help in some very small way. As I left for work, Larry said he would send money. I felt better.
But then, later today, I got an update from Lost Orphans. I knew there might be some small amount in the Happy Choice account but I had just asked that they send a wire early last month because we had another urgent need. I decided not to impose on them again this soon. Larry and I could just send the little we had and hopefully it would be enough until Lost Orphans sent the monthly wire. But God is so good. About 10:00 I received an email from Lost Orphans giving me an update of donations for the month, letting me know that a wire was being sent today for over $600.00!
I almost cried with joy. Oscar never doubts our God. He's got 12 kids plus his own three with no food and no prospects of food, but he's trusting God. I, on the other hand, have a full stomach, never miss a meal, and I wonder where the money for more food, for school needs for the kiddos, for a barbed wire fence to surround the Happy Choice Compound for protection - where money for all those things will come from. You'd think I would have figured it out by now. God is our Provider and when we trust Him, He will out do our little human efforts every time.
Then I got an update on Jessica Boone, the sweet young girl who has been coming back from a traumatic head injury that nearly killed her. This young girl has such amazing faith. Her pain is excruciating right now. Her mom, Lisa, who is a living testimony to faith herself, is overwhelmed with watching her daughter suffer, unable to give her any relief from the pain. Saturday, when mom Lisa is at the point of despair, Jessie turns to to her and wants to know if they can go to church on Sunday. Lisa says, "no Jess, you aren't able to sit on the pew for that long right now with your pain." Jessie tells her mom, "it will be better tomorrow. I asked God to make it better and He will."
Oscar and Jessica Boone know how to stay strong.
Faith is believing when we cannot see. Jessie and her family, Avery Grace Akeman and her family, Oscar and Emma and their ministry... so many others I could name - these precious believers are my encouragement to stay strong, to never doubt, never fear.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Holy Father, I thank You that You have already defeated the enemy. I submit to You this day and resist the onslaught of the enemy upon my life, knowing that he will flee from me when I do. Lord Jesus, help me to recognize those seemingly innocent compromises I am tempted to make for what they are - the beginning of a spiral downward into darkness and away from You. You alone are my strength and my God. My allegiance is with You, my Redeemer. Lord, keep my eyes focused on You and all You have for me.
Help me to stay strong, to trust Your strength when I have none of my own. Help me to remember that You are always with me. What or whom should possible fear with You by my side?
This day is for You, for Your glory. I worship You in the midst of everything I face, knowing that in Your presence there is safety and peace.
In the precious Name of Jesus, my Savior and my God. Amen.
This hymn came to mind. I couldn't find it on youtube but I'll share the lyrics here. Lord give me such a faith as this.
William Hiley Bathurst (1796-1877) wrote:
O for a faith that will not shrink, though pressed by every foe,
That will not tremble on the brink of any earthly woe.
That will not murmur or complain beneath the chastening rod,
But in the hour of grief or pain, will lean upon its God.
A faith that shines more bright and clear when tempests rage without;
That when in danger knows no fear, in darkness feels no doubt!
Lord, give us such a faith as this; and then, whatever may come,
We’ll taste even here the hallowed bliss of an eternal home.
http://youtu.be/ZbnKW1gHRzE - Stay Strong - Newsboys
You're in the moment now
A bitter root
A wandering eye and then
The ties that bind start wearing thin, thin
You're in the moment now
When all you've been blessed with
Is not enough
Here's where the ground gets loose
Here's where the devils call your bluff
Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
You've gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way
We've seen the tragic flaws
The tortured souls
The saints with feet of clay
Here's where sin becomes cliché'
We've come through wilderness and watched
The cloud by day
The burning sky into dawn
Have you forgotten who you are?
Did you forget whose trip you're on?
Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
We've gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way
Get up, there's further to go
Get up, there's more to be done
Get up, this witness is sure
Get up, this race can be won
This race can be won
We've gotta stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
Our Father's dawn will light our day, our day
Come on and stay strong
His grip is sure
And His patience still endures
There'll be no letting go today, no way
Come on, and stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7-8a
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
This morning, I was going to send this out in my Monday morning devotional, but I just ran out of time. This new job is really cutting into my free time. = ) I really wasn't feeling a need to "stay strong" but it's always good to remember the message.
First thing this morning, I had an email from Oscar - the kids don't have any food again. I told Larry we just have to send some money. Oscar's kids need food and I can't stand it that they don't know where the next meal will come from. Well, let me say, I didn't know where their next meal would come from. I'm sure Oscar knew God would provide. He always trusts and God is always faithful to make a way. Well today, I figured God was giving Larry and me the opportunity to help in some very small way. As I left for work, Larry said he would send money. I felt better.
But then, later today, I got an update from Lost Orphans. I knew there might be some small amount in the Happy Choice account but I had just asked that they send a wire early last month because we had another urgent need. I decided not to impose on them again this soon. Larry and I could just send the little we had and hopefully it would be enough until Lost Orphans sent the monthly wire. But God is so good. About 10:00 I received an email from Lost Orphans giving me an update of donations for the month, letting me know that a wire was being sent today for over $600.00!
I almost cried with joy. Oscar never doubts our God. He's got 12 kids plus his own three with no food and no prospects of food, but he's trusting God. I, on the other hand, have a full stomach, never miss a meal, and I wonder where the money for more food, for school needs for the kiddos, for a barbed wire fence to surround the Happy Choice Compound for protection - where money for all those things will come from. You'd think I would have figured it out by now. God is our Provider and when we trust Him, He will out do our little human efforts every time.
Then I got an update on Jessica Boone, the sweet young girl who has been coming back from a traumatic head injury that nearly killed her. This young girl has such amazing faith. Her pain is excruciating right now. Her mom, Lisa, who is a living testimony to faith herself, is overwhelmed with watching her daughter suffer, unable to give her any relief from the pain. Saturday, when mom Lisa is at the point of despair, Jessie turns to to her and wants to know if they can go to church on Sunday. Lisa says, "no Jess, you aren't able to sit on the pew for that long right now with your pain." Jessie tells her mom, "it will be better tomorrow. I asked God to make it better and He will."
Oscar and Jessica Boone know how to stay strong.
Faith is believing when we cannot see. Jessie and her family, Avery Grace Akeman and her family, Oscar and Emma and their ministry... so many others I could name - these precious believers are my encouragement to stay strong, to never doubt, never fear.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Holy Father, I thank You that You have already defeated the enemy. I submit to You this day and resist the onslaught of the enemy upon my life, knowing that he will flee from me when I do. Lord Jesus, help me to recognize those seemingly innocent compromises I am tempted to make for what they are - the beginning of a spiral downward into darkness and away from You. You alone are my strength and my God. My allegiance is with You, my Redeemer. Lord, keep my eyes focused on You and all You have for me.
Help me to stay strong, to trust Your strength when I have none of my own. Help me to remember that You are always with me. What or whom should possible fear with You by my side?
This day is for You, for Your glory. I worship You in the midst of everything I face, knowing that in Your presence there is safety and peace.
In the precious Name of Jesus, my Savior and my God. Amen.
This hymn came to mind. I couldn't find it on youtube but I'll share the lyrics here. Lord give me such a faith as this.
William Hiley Bathurst (1796-1877) wrote:
O for a faith that will not shrink, though pressed by every foe,
That will not tremble on the brink of any earthly woe.
That will not murmur or complain beneath the chastening rod,
But in the hour of grief or pain, will lean upon its God.
A faith that shines more bright and clear when tempests rage without;
That when in danger knows no fear, in darkness feels no doubt!
Lord, give us such a faith as this; and then, whatever may come,
We’ll taste even here the hallowed bliss of an eternal home.
http://youtu.be/ZbnKW1gHRzE - Stay Strong - Newsboys
You're in the moment now
A bitter root
A wandering eye and then
The ties that bind start wearing thin, thin
You're in the moment now
When all you've been blessed with
Is not enough
Here's where the ground gets loose
Here's where the devils call your bluff
Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
You've gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way
We've seen the tragic flaws
The tortured souls
The saints with feet of clay
Here's where sin becomes cliché'
We've come through wilderness and watched
The cloud by day
The burning sky into dawn
Have you forgotten who you are?
Did you forget whose trip you're on?
Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
We've gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way
Get up, there's further to go
Get up, there's more to be done
Get up, this witness is sure
Get up, this race can be won
This race can be won
We've gotta stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
Our Father's dawn will light our day, our day
Come on and stay strong
His grip is sure
And His patience still endures
There'll be no letting go today, no way
Come on, and stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7-8a
Friday, June 29, 2012
BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED
Colossians 3:17, 23
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. …
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Steven Curtis Chapman - Do Everything - Official Music - Music Videos
http://youtu.be/d3YLJCOKOzM
The Lord used the prophet Jeremiah to issue a warning to Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 26:4-6
“Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law which I have set before you, and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened), then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.’ “
But Jerusalem wouldn’t listen. So God allowed the people of Jerusalem to be taken into exile by Babylon. There they would remain for 70 years.
They must have been felt so discouraged and defeated. They were aliens in a foreign land, with no hope for a future. But Jeremiah had another word from the LORD:
Jeremiah 29:4-7
This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
My translation – “Bloom where you’re planted!”
Jeremiah told the Israelites to make the best of things. He told them to go ahead and put down roots, to build houses, plant gardens, let your sons and daughters get married, go on with your life. Make the most of the situation. Seek peace and prosperity in your new your city because when Babylon prospers, you will prosper, too.
This is a lesson for me. There are days when I feel stuck in my job. I would love to spend my time studying God’s Word, doing good deeds in His Name, sharing the gospel, teaching His Truths. I love doing those things, and I feel that’s what honors God. But instead, I have a real job I must do to help provide for my family. My real job is not in ministry. I’m a mortgage banker, and I help people get financing for their homes. It’s not exactly the “higher calling” that I desire! But maybe God has a reason for me being right where I am.
Paul says that whatever I do, whether it’s teaching a bible class or helping a client get his loan, I should do it in a way that honors the Name of Jesus. I am an Ambassador of Christ wherever I am and whatever I’m doing. The way I do my job reflects on His power in my life. If I’m not ethical or conscientious in my work, if I’m not giving each customer my very best, then I’m not representing my Lord honorably.
I deal with lots of people in my job. Every day I have opportunities to be “salt and light” to the people I meet. I don’t have to “preach with words”, I can teach by example. What sermon will my life preach today? Will others see Jesus living in me? Or will they see someone just going through the motions of the day, longing for 5:00 to come so I can “clock out”?
God’s people should be known for their excellence. We should always be the ones most willing to do whatever needs to be done and without complaining; we should be the ones who work harder and with more enthusiasm than our co-workers who do not have our Hope. We should be more powerful, more effective, more productive and wiser BECAUSE we have access to the Spirit of God living within us. We have the Holy Spirit with us every moment. And He is more than willing to guide us throughout our day; helping us to make decisions that honor Him, showing us how to do everything we do for His glory. All we have to do is ask and be willing to give Him control.
And I don’t have to be the “boss” or the “leader” in order to be a powerful influence. Every relationship I have should honor Christ.
Colossians 3:18-22
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Slaves (employees) obey your earthly (employers) masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
As a wife, I’m not the head of my family, but I do have a powerful influence on my family. I can honor Christ by submitting to my husband and helping him to be stronger and more effective in all he does. I can be his helper or I can constantly beat him down with my words and disrespect. “Slaves” can equate to “employees” for my purposes here. As an employee I should be respectful of my employer. Whether he’s out of the office or in the next room, I should work diligently at the task he’s given me. If I do that with a sincere heart, I honor my employer but more importantly, I honor the Lord.
Wherever God plants me that is where I need to bloom. He has a plan for me. And that plan is so much better than my plan, so I’m going to trust Him and “bloom where He plants me”. Jeremiah had one more message for the Exiles in Babylon, and that message is for me, too.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD…
“Wherever we're planted, there's something to give thanks for. There's someone to help, a garden to grow, and a life to build. We're in the midst of it all, and God is, too. With his love, we can bloom and we can thrive ... wherever we're planted.” Susan Bennett
http://youtu.be/OHUppFNjy5E - The Motions - Matthew West
Colossians 3:17, 23
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. …
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Steven Curtis Chapman - Do Everything - Official Music - Music Videos
http://youtu.be/d3YLJCOKOzM
The Lord used the prophet Jeremiah to issue a warning to Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 26:4-6
“Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law which I have set before you, and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened), then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.’ “
But Jerusalem wouldn’t listen. So God allowed the people of Jerusalem to be taken into exile by Babylon. There they would remain for 70 years.
They must have been felt so discouraged and defeated. They were aliens in a foreign land, with no hope for a future. But Jeremiah had another word from the LORD:
Jeremiah 29:4-7
This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
My translation – “Bloom where you’re planted!”
Jeremiah told the Israelites to make the best of things. He told them to go ahead and put down roots, to build houses, plant gardens, let your sons and daughters get married, go on with your life. Make the most of the situation. Seek peace and prosperity in your new your city because when Babylon prospers, you will prosper, too.
This is a lesson for me. There are days when I feel stuck in my job. I would love to spend my time studying God’s Word, doing good deeds in His Name, sharing the gospel, teaching His Truths. I love doing those things, and I feel that’s what honors God. But instead, I have a real job I must do to help provide for my family. My real job is not in ministry. I’m a mortgage banker, and I help people get financing for their homes. It’s not exactly the “higher calling” that I desire! But maybe God has a reason for me being right where I am.
Paul says that whatever I do, whether it’s teaching a bible class or helping a client get his loan, I should do it in a way that honors the Name of Jesus. I am an Ambassador of Christ wherever I am and whatever I’m doing. The way I do my job reflects on His power in my life. If I’m not ethical or conscientious in my work, if I’m not giving each customer my very best, then I’m not representing my Lord honorably.
I deal with lots of people in my job. Every day I have opportunities to be “salt and light” to the people I meet. I don’t have to “preach with words”, I can teach by example. What sermon will my life preach today? Will others see Jesus living in me? Or will they see someone just going through the motions of the day, longing for 5:00 to come so I can “clock out”?
God’s people should be known for their excellence. We should always be the ones most willing to do whatever needs to be done and without complaining; we should be the ones who work harder and with more enthusiasm than our co-workers who do not have our Hope. We should be more powerful, more effective, more productive and wiser BECAUSE we have access to the Spirit of God living within us. We have the Holy Spirit with us every moment. And He is more than willing to guide us throughout our day; helping us to make decisions that honor Him, showing us how to do everything we do for His glory. All we have to do is ask and be willing to give Him control.
And I don’t have to be the “boss” or the “leader” in order to be a powerful influence. Every relationship I have should honor Christ.
Colossians 3:18-22
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Slaves (employees) obey your earthly (employers) masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
As a wife, I’m not the head of my family, but I do have a powerful influence on my family. I can honor Christ by submitting to my husband and helping him to be stronger and more effective in all he does. I can be his helper or I can constantly beat him down with my words and disrespect. “Slaves” can equate to “employees” for my purposes here. As an employee I should be respectful of my employer. Whether he’s out of the office or in the next room, I should work diligently at the task he’s given me. If I do that with a sincere heart, I honor my employer but more importantly, I honor the Lord.
Wherever God plants me that is where I need to bloom. He has a plan for me. And that plan is so much better than my plan, so I’m going to trust Him and “bloom where He plants me”. Jeremiah had one more message for the Exiles in Babylon, and that message is for me, too.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD…
“Wherever we're planted, there's something to give thanks for. There's someone to help, a garden to grow, and a life to build. We're in the midst of it all, and God is, too. With his love, we can bloom and we can thrive ... wherever we're planted.” Susan Bennett
http://youtu.be/OHUppFNjy5E - The Motions - Matthew West
Sunday, June 24, 2012
What's in a name?
God changed Abram's name to Abraham. Abraham means father of many.
Gideon's name was changed from Jerubbaal. Jerubbaal means "Baal judges". Not a great name for one of God's judges. "Gideon" was given the task of delivering the Israelites from the Midianites and the Amalekites who were constantly raiding the country. In Judges 6 we learn that Gideon cut down the Asherah pole that stood next to Ba-al. He cut down the idol to reclaim his people for God. The name "Gideon" means "to fell, to cut down". After that, we no longer hear of Jerubbaal. But exploits of Gideon are found in 103 verses in only 3 chapters - there is more about Gideon than any other judge. Judges 6-8.
There are many "name changes" in the Bible. And they always seem to have meaning or reflect a change in heart or purpose for the name bearer. Paul was no different.
Ephesians 3:8
This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of the Messiah.
Paul considered himself the least of all the saints, the least of all the apostles. He knew where he had come from and was so thankful for the incomparable riches of being called to be a servant of God unto the Gentiles.
But Paul wasn't always called Paul. When we first meet him in chapter 7 of Acts of the Apostles, we hear of a young man named Saul.
Acts 7:55-58
55 But Stephen, filled by the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw God’s glory, with Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, 56 “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57 Then they screamed at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 58 They threw him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
At the martyrdom of Stephen, whose name means "crown" = ), the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young named.... Saul.
The change from Saul to Paul didn't happen when we might expect to happen - at his conversion. We don't see the switch until chapter 13 of Acts.
Acts 13:9-10
This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God’s message. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (this is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
Then Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at the sorcerer 10 and said, “You son of the Devil, full of all deceit and all fraud, enemy of all righteousness! Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord?
There it is! Saul - also called Paul!
We no longer hear about Saul of Tarsus. But we hear plenty about and from Paul.
Why the name change? Did God change Paul's name like He did with Abram to Abraham, or Jacob to Israel? We don't really know for sure based on Scripture. Some think that Paul was just Saul's "Roman" name. It was not uncommon for people to have two names, especially if they had dual citizenship like Paul did. Or maybe Paul changed his own name, to make a new start. Maybe he didn't want anything to do with that man "Saul" who had persecuted followers of Christ. Whatever the reason, whether it was God or Paul himself making the change, the name mattered.
The name Paul means "little, least, humble" and I even read one definition of "Paulos", the true Greek version of Paul, that said it meant "little man".
Sounds to me like Paul was constantly reminded that he was the "least" of the apostles, the "least" of the followers of Christ, but probably just in his own eyes. I certainly don't look at him as the least of any group. He was powerful, humble, passionate ambassador for his Savior. And there's nothing "small" or "least" about that wonderful man of God.
The story of Paul should give us all hope. Saul of Tarsus was heartless and relentless in his pursuit of believers who followed Jesus. He literally hunted them down and either stoned them or took them to jail. But God had a plan for Saul of Tarsus. He took this horrible excuse of a man and changed him forever. If Christ can make that kind of change in Paul, I think he can change any of us who are willing to trust in Him and walk in His way.
Names are important. I looked up my name and found in French, my name, Carol, means "strong". However, the English name, Carol, means "song of joy". I like both of those meanings. They make me hold my head up a little higher. Attributes I hope to have when I grow up. = ) But the German version wasn't quite so grand. In Germany my name means "farmer". I guess I better go plant some seeds for the Lord.
I still answer to "Carol", but I do have a new name now. My new name is "Christian" which simply means follower of Christ. That's how I want to be remembered.
http://youtu.be/CC8puwexBBo- He knows my name - Paul Baloche
God changed Abram's name to Abraham. Abraham means father of many.
Gideon's name was changed from Jerubbaal. Jerubbaal means "Baal judges". Not a great name for one of God's judges. "Gideon" was given the task of delivering the Israelites from the Midianites and the Amalekites who were constantly raiding the country. In Judges 6 we learn that Gideon cut down the Asherah pole that stood next to Ba-al. He cut down the idol to reclaim his people for God. The name "Gideon" means "to fell, to cut down". After that, we no longer hear of Jerubbaal. But exploits of Gideon are found in 103 verses in only 3 chapters - there is more about Gideon than any other judge. Judges 6-8.
There are many "name changes" in the Bible. And they always seem to have meaning or reflect a change in heart or purpose for the name bearer. Paul was no different.
Ephesians 3:8
This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of the Messiah.
Paul considered himself the least of all the saints, the least of all the apostles. He knew where he had come from and was so thankful for the incomparable riches of being called to be a servant of God unto the Gentiles.
But Paul wasn't always called Paul. When we first meet him in chapter 7 of Acts of the Apostles, we hear of a young man named Saul.
Acts 7:55-58
55 But Stephen, filled by the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw God’s glory, with Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, 56 “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57 Then they screamed at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 58 They threw him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
At the martyrdom of Stephen, whose name means "crown" = ), the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young named.... Saul.
The change from Saul to Paul didn't happen when we might expect to happen - at his conversion. We don't see the switch until chapter 13 of Acts.
Acts 13:9-10
This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God’s message. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (this is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
Then Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at the sorcerer 10 and said, “You son of the Devil, full of all deceit and all fraud, enemy of all righteousness! Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord?
There it is! Saul - also called Paul!
We no longer hear about Saul of Tarsus. But we hear plenty about and from Paul.
Why the name change? Did God change Paul's name like He did with Abram to Abraham, or Jacob to Israel? We don't really know for sure based on Scripture. Some think that Paul was just Saul's "Roman" name. It was not uncommon for people to have two names, especially if they had dual citizenship like Paul did. Or maybe Paul changed his own name, to make a new start. Maybe he didn't want anything to do with that man "Saul" who had persecuted followers of Christ. Whatever the reason, whether it was God or Paul himself making the change, the name mattered.
The name Paul means "little, least, humble" and I even read one definition of "Paulos", the true Greek version of Paul, that said it meant "little man".
Sounds to me like Paul was constantly reminded that he was the "least" of the apostles, the "least" of the followers of Christ, but probably just in his own eyes. I certainly don't look at him as the least of any group. He was powerful, humble, passionate ambassador for his Savior. And there's nothing "small" or "least" about that wonderful man of God.
The story of Paul should give us all hope. Saul of Tarsus was heartless and relentless in his pursuit of believers who followed Jesus. He literally hunted them down and either stoned them or took them to jail. But God had a plan for Saul of Tarsus. He took this horrible excuse of a man and changed him forever. If Christ can make that kind of change in Paul, I think he can change any of us who are willing to trust in Him and walk in His way.
Names are important. I looked up my name and found in French, my name, Carol, means "strong". However, the English name, Carol, means "song of joy". I like both of those meanings. They make me hold my head up a little higher. Attributes I hope to have when I grow up. = ) But the German version wasn't quite so grand. In Germany my name means "farmer". I guess I better go plant some seeds for the Lord.
I still answer to "Carol", but I do have a new name now. My new name is "Christian" which simply means follower of Christ. That's how I want to be remembered.
http://youtu.be/CC8puwexBBo- He knows my name - Paul Baloche
Saturday, June 23, 2012
NOT PERFECT - JUST FORGIVEN
http://youtu.be/rVcCKe2sz0Y - Give me Your eyes - Brandon Heath - lipsinked by Myke Fox
When Tyler was in middle school, he went through a period of time when he felt alone and unloved. He wore black all the time. Larry and I thought it was just because he was trying to find himself - some fashion statement that would make him special.
But he was hurting. We saw what we wanted to see. He was always surrounded by friends who loved him; he had parents who thought he was amazing. Yet this 12 year old boy felt alone.
In high school he shared some of the feelings he had had when in middle school. His English paper began: "There is no God and if there is he doesn't care about me." Now that will get a mom's attention. He continued to explain how depressed and discouraged he had felt, that is until someone noticed. His friend Ben took the time to really listen to Tyler. When Ben asked how Tyler was, he didn't let Tyler get off with "I'm fine." He knew something more was going on. Ben showed Tyler that someone did care Someone besides his parents. After all, according to Tyler, we had to care because we were his mom and dad. Ben started asking him questions about the bible, making him think about spiritual things. A funny thing happened, Tyler started seeing God's goodness and love. He began to realize that God had put Ben in his life to point Tyler to Jesus. God really did love Tyler after all.
Just this week, I've learned a valuable lesson about making rash judgments. I've been reminded that everyone has got junk that they are dealing with.
Violence at home
Drug Addiction
Illness in the family
Death of a loved one
Financial hardship
Marriage problems
These are just a few of the situations I've seen this week that people around me are dealing with. Had I not taken the time to show interest in the lives of others, I would not have known that the man who tends to fly into a verbal rage when things get stressful - that man is dealing with a child addicted to drugs and he doesn't know how to help. The woman who seems distracted and unable to focus on anything - her husband beat her up and her kids had to stop him from hurting her. Her marriage may be over and that weighs heavy on her. Or what about the woman who has a family of her own but still must go every day to the nursing home to make sure her mom is okay?
This week, I had a prayer request for a family whose 18-year-old son had been swimming with friends and he drown. That's what they're dealing with this week and the rest of their lives. Everyone is dealing with something and that "something" can affect how they act around us. Maybe if I realized how much others are hurting, I might be more compassionate and less quick to be offended or angry at things they do or say.
Mark 6:34
“And Jesus, when he came out, saw many people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.”
Someday, I want to do a search of all the times that the Bible tells us that Jesus was moved with compassion. Doesn't this verse just touch your heart? Our Savior, the Son of God, has great compassion for the hurting and the lost. "He saw many people and was moved with compassion towards them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd". Do I see what Jesus saw when I walk into a room, or when I'm shopping at the mall when I'm at work or school, or sitting in church? Do I have compassion when I walk among the lost in my community? Or do I walk right past without giving them a second thought?
People are hurting, but they don't trust others enough to open up. We're consumed with looking good on the outside, and we hide who we really are. We put on our masks and only show the world what we think will be "acceptable". And why do we play these games? We do it so that people will like us and respect us, and maybe, just maybe they will be our "friend". How many of us truly let others see who we really are - on the inside?
Being transparent is scary. It means no more secrets. No more lies. No more pretending. That's not easy for most of us. We are afraid that if our friends knew the truth, they wouldn't be our friends anymore.
How truthful are you when you go out into the world?
If you and I aren't always truthful about what's really going on in our lives and the struggles we're facing, don't you think that there are lots of people just like us who look good on the outside but on the inside, they are falling apart?
We are isolating ourselves from people who just might surprise us and be more than willing to come alongside offering encouragement and understanding. And even worse, when we don't open up and share our struggles, we may miss opportunities to help someone else who is going through the same thing we've already gone through and survived. When we are transparent and real, we open the doors for others to be transparent, too.
Galatians 6:1-3
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
1. If I see a fellow believer overcome by sin, Jesus says to gently
and humbly to try and help that person find his way back.
2. When I try to help someone who is struggling, I must be on guard less I
fall into the same sin.
3. Jesus wants me to help others who are burdened - to come along side
and help them to get through the struggle.
4. And if God puts someone on my path who needs help, I should never
think I'm too busy or too important to stop and help, however I can.
This is the law of Christ. He taught his disciples to help others, whether it
was a physical need or a spiritual need. And we are to be His Hands and Feet.
And don't underestimate the people around you. You may just be surprised at how much they care and how willing they are to help if you share your struggles. You might just find out that they need some encouragement, too. And when we help each other, we become the true Body of Christ.
Holy Father, give me Your eyes for the hurting and suffering around me. Help me to really see each person you put in my life every day, whether it's the cashier at the grocery store or man who cut me off in traffic. Let me see those crossings of paths as opportunities to be Jesus to a hurting world. Lord Jesus, You were never too busy to help others. You were never too tired. Please forgive me when I think that what I have to do this day is more important than taking a few minutes to encourage a friend who is suffering. Lord, teach me to listen, really listen not just to the words someone says, but to the unspoken words, the body language that clearly shows pain. Lord, I realize that I may not be the one to help every friend who is struggling in silence. Not everyone will be able to open up to me, but Lord, help me at least give them the option of letting people know I care.
I've got a long way to go, Lord. I need You to prompt me to put myself out there so that others won't see me as someone who has never struggled. I want people to know that I have struggled and You've gotten me through every time. I will be Your witness. You are so faithful. I love You, Lord. May my life reflect Your goodness and kindness and compassion to everyone you put in my life. It's in Your precious Name, Jesus, that I ask these things. Amen.
This song says it so much better than I can. Mark of Casting Crowns shares how he felt as a young boy growing up around "perfect Christians". If we never let down our masks, if all people see is our plastic church faces, we will miss out on opportunities to witness for Christ. If others don't know how God continually gives us victory over our own struggles, they may think there is no hope for them. But when they see that we aren't perfect, we are just forgiven, they might just want to know our Savior and experience the Peace that only He can give.
Thank God that Ben took the time to see Tyler through Jesus's eyes. Thank God for putting Ben in the right place at the right time so that he could speak Life into Tyler's life. Because Ben cared enough to be the hands and feet of Jesus, Tyler came to know his Savior in a powerful way. Tyler is now committed to living his life for Christ. He knows the love of God - personally. He has been forever changed because someone cared enough to see with Jesus's eyes.
I'm so proud of Tyler. Since that day when he began to fully understand how much he is loved - not just by his parents and family, not just by friends, but by his heavenly Father, he has been a faithful witness to God's love and compassion. He sees others with Jesus' eyes, just like Ben did. Tyler has a powerful testimony. Just ask him. God is using him to help others, just like He used Ben.
http://youtu.be/tA0sJXOGeNE - Stained glass Masquerade - Casting Crowns
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they’ll soon discover
That I don’t belong
So I tuck it all away like everything’s okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them
*Chorus*
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade.
Is there anyone who’s been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who’s traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is CONVINCING
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay
Chorus x2
Well if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small
 |
| My "perfect" child went through a period when he was hurting. He felt alone and unloved. How could I not see? |
When Tyler was in middle school, he went through a period of time when he felt alone and unloved. He wore black all the time. Larry and I thought it was just because he was trying to find himself - some fashion statement that would make him special.
But he was hurting. We saw what we wanted to see. He was always surrounded by friends who loved him; he had parents who thought he was amazing. Yet this 12 year old boy felt alone.
In high school he shared some of the feelings he had had when in middle school. His English paper began: "There is no God and if there is he doesn't care about me." Now that will get a mom's attention. He continued to explain how depressed and discouraged he had felt, that is until someone noticed. His friend Ben took the time to really listen to Tyler. When Ben asked how Tyler was, he didn't let Tyler get off with "I'm fine." He knew something more was going on. Ben showed Tyler that someone did care Someone besides his parents. After all, according to Tyler, we had to care because we were his mom and dad. Ben started asking him questions about the bible, making him think about spiritual things. A funny thing happened, Tyler started seeing God's goodness and love. He began to realize that God had put Ben in his life to point Tyler to Jesus. God really did love Tyler after all.
Just this week, I've learned a valuable lesson about making rash judgments. I've been reminded that everyone has got junk that they are dealing with.
Violence at home
Drug Addiction
Illness in the family
Death of a loved one
Financial hardship
Marriage problems
These are just a few of the situations I've seen this week that people around me are dealing with. Had I not taken the time to show interest in the lives of others, I would not have known that the man who tends to fly into a verbal rage when things get stressful - that man is dealing with a child addicted to drugs and he doesn't know how to help. The woman who seems distracted and unable to focus on anything - her husband beat her up and her kids had to stop him from hurting her. Her marriage may be over and that weighs heavy on her. Or what about the woman who has a family of her own but still must go every day to the nursing home to make sure her mom is okay?
This week, I had a prayer request for a family whose 18-year-old son had been swimming with friends and he drown. That's what they're dealing with this week and the rest of their lives. Everyone is dealing with something and that "something" can affect how they act around us. Maybe if I realized how much others are hurting, I might be more compassionate and less quick to be offended or angry at things they do or say.
Mark 6:34
“And Jesus, when he came out, saw many people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.”
Someday, I want to do a search of all the times that the Bible tells us that Jesus was moved with compassion. Doesn't this verse just touch your heart? Our Savior, the Son of God, has great compassion for the hurting and the lost. "He saw many people and was moved with compassion towards them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd". Do I see what Jesus saw when I walk into a room, or when I'm shopping at the mall when I'm at work or school, or sitting in church? Do I have compassion when I walk among the lost in my community? Or do I walk right past without giving them a second thought?
People are hurting, but they don't trust others enough to open up. We're consumed with looking good on the outside, and we hide who we really are. We put on our masks and only show the world what we think will be "acceptable". And why do we play these games? We do it so that people will like us and respect us, and maybe, just maybe they will be our "friend". How many of us truly let others see who we really are - on the inside?
Being transparent is scary. It means no more secrets. No more lies. No more pretending. That's not easy for most of us. We are afraid that if our friends knew the truth, they wouldn't be our friends anymore.
How truthful are you when you go out into the world?
If you and I aren't always truthful about what's really going on in our lives and the struggles we're facing, don't you think that there are lots of people just like us who look good on the outside but on the inside, they are falling apart?
We are isolating ourselves from people who just might surprise us and be more than willing to come alongside offering encouragement and understanding. And even worse, when we don't open up and share our struggles, we may miss opportunities to help someone else who is going through the same thing we've already gone through and survived. When we are transparent and real, we open the doors for others to be transparent, too.
Galatians 6:1-3
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
1. If I see a fellow believer overcome by sin, Jesus says to gently
and humbly to try and help that person find his way back.
2. When I try to help someone who is struggling, I must be on guard less I
fall into the same sin.
3. Jesus wants me to help others who are burdened - to come along side
and help them to get through the struggle.
4. And if God puts someone on my path who needs help, I should never
think I'm too busy or too important to stop and help, however I can.
This is the law of Christ. He taught his disciples to help others, whether it
was a physical need or a spiritual need. And we are to be His Hands and Feet.
And don't underestimate the people around you. You may just be surprised at how much they care and how willing they are to help if you share your struggles. You might just find out that they need some encouragement, too. And when we help each other, we become the true Body of Christ.
Holy Father, give me Your eyes for the hurting and suffering around me. Help me to really see each person you put in my life every day, whether it's the cashier at the grocery store or man who cut me off in traffic. Let me see those crossings of paths as opportunities to be Jesus to a hurting world. Lord Jesus, You were never too busy to help others. You were never too tired. Please forgive me when I think that what I have to do this day is more important than taking a few minutes to encourage a friend who is suffering. Lord, teach me to listen, really listen not just to the words someone says, but to the unspoken words, the body language that clearly shows pain. Lord, I realize that I may not be the one to help every friend who is struggling in silence. Not everyone will be able to open up to me, but Lord, help me at least give them the option of letting people know I care.
I've got a long way to go, Lord. I need You to prompt me to put myself out there so that others won't see me as someone who has never struggled. I want people to know that I have struggled and You've gotten me through every time. I will be Your witness. You are so faithful. I love You, Lord. May my life reflect Your goodness and kindness and compassion to everyone you put in my life. It's in Your precious Name, Jesus, that I ask these things. Amen.
This song says it so much better than I can. Mark of Casting Crowns shares how he felt as a young boy growing up around "perfect Christians". If we never let down our masks, if all people see is our plastic church faces, we will miss out on opportunities to witness for Christ. If others don't know how God continually gives us victory over our own struggles, they may think there is no hope for them. But when they see that we aren't perfect, we are just forgiven, they might just want to know our Savior and experience the Peace that only He can give.
Thank God that Ben took the time to see Tyler through Jesus's eyes. Thank God for putting Ben in the right place at the right time so that he could speak Life into Tyler's life. Because Ben cared enough to be the hands and feet of Jesus, Tyler came to know his Savior in a powerful way. Tyler is now committed to living his life for Christ. He knows the love of God - personally. He has been forever changed because someone cared enough to see with Jesus's eyes.
I'm so proud of Tyler. Since that day when he began to fully understand how much he is loved - not just by his parents and family, not just by friends, but by his heavenly Father, he has been a faithful witness to God's love and compassion. He sees others with Jesus' eyes, just like Ben did. Tyler has a powerful testimony. Just ask him. God is using him to help others, just like He used Ben.
http://youtu.be/tA0sJXOGeNE - Stained glass Masquerade - Casting Crowns
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they’ll soon discover
That I don’t belong
So I tuck it all away like everything’s okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them
*Chorus*
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade.
Is there anyone who’s been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who’s traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is CONVINCING
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay
Chorus x2
Well if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small
Friday, June 22, 2012
Feeling unloved?
http://youtu.be/I-G8IfjPAII - You are loved! - Josh Groban
Someone loved you enough to die for you. You were destined for punishment but someone stepped in and took your place. He took your lashes, he took your torture. He took your sins with Him to the grave and gave you the gift of Eternal Life.
If you ever feel unloved, like no one cares, just read through these verses. This is just a small portion of the passages that God chose to put in His Written Word for us to know. HE loves you beyond your wildest imagination! Other people may let you down and disappoint you, but Your God will always be with you to get your through any circumstance.
Yesterday, I was so tired when I left for work. My mind was fuzzy and unclear. I didn't get to sleep until very late and then woke way too early! But before I left for work, Larry prayed over me. He asked God to give me a clear mind so that I could do my job well. He asked for protection for me.
I left home and was pulling through a green light onto Hwy 205 from a side street. This has always been a very dangerous intersection - many accidents happened in the past. But a traffic light was installed a while back which makes it much safer. Yesterday, I brain was fuzzy so I paid close attention to the green light I had anticipating that it might possibly turn red. I was ready to stop if it did. The car in front of me cleared the intersection, I followed right behind, again watching the light.
Just as I got through, a car came whizzing through the intersection right through his red light! It was a near miss. Just a couple seconds earlier and I would have been t-boned by this fast moving car. I had been so focused on watching to make sure the light didn't change, I didn't even see this car on 205 approaching me. I cried when I realized how God had protected me from certain injury, possibly death. There's no doubt in my mind HE saved me from that accident.
My mind was foggy that morning, but Larry prayed for my protection and my Father provided it.
God does things like that all the time and we don't even realize it. I know I'm loved by the Creator of the Universe. He shows me every day if I'll just pay attention.
Today, I pray that you feel His loving presence and compassion, His great care and understanding, as you go about your day. By the way, the best way to move past feeling unloved is to show love to someone else. Look around you, there are people who are hurting and need to know the Savior's love. Think about it. If you who are so blessed in so many ways have moments of feeling unloved, what about all those other people who struggle every day just to survive? What about those families who are ripped apart by divorce or illness or addiction or death? If you feel unloved, show love to someone else who might need it. You'll feel better and so will they.
Isaiah 54:8b
Ephesians 1:3-5
Prayer:
Someone loved you enough to die for you. You were destined for punishment but someone stepped in and took your place. He took your lashes, he took your torture. He took your sins with Him to the grave and gave you the gift of Eternal Life.
If you ever feel unloved, like no one cares, just read through these verses. This is just a small portion of the passages that God chose to put in His Written Word for us to know. HE loves you beyond your wildest imagination! Other people may let you down and disappoint you, but Your God will always be with you to get your through any circumstance.
Yesterday, I was so tired when I left for work. My mind was fuzzy and unclear. I didn't get to sleep until very late and then woke way too early! But before I left for work, Larry prayed over me. He asked God to give me a clear mind so that I could do my job well. He asked for protection for me.
I left home and was pulling through a green light onto Hwy 205 from a side street. This has always been a very dangerous intersection - many accidents happened in the past. But a traffic light was installed a while back which makes it much safer. Yesterday, I brain was fuzzy so I paid close attention to the green light I had anticipating that it might possibly turn red. I was ready to stop if it did. The car in front of me cleared the intersection, I followed right behind, again watching the light.
Just as I got through, a car came whizzing through the intersection right through his red light! It was a near miss. Just a couple seconds earlier and I would have been t-boned by this fast moving car. I had been so focused on watching to make sure the light didn't change, I didn't even see this car on 205 approaching me. I cried when I realized how God had protected me from certain injury, possibly death. There's no doubt in my mind HE saved me from that accident.
My mind was foggy that morning, but Larry prayed for my protection and my Father provided it.
God does things like that all the time and we don't even realize it. I know I'm loved by the Creator of the Universe. He shows me every day if I'll just pay attention.
Today, I pray that you feel His loving presence and compassion, His great care and understanding, as you go about your day. By the way, the best way to move past feeling unloved is to show love to someone else. Look around you, there are people who are hurting and need to know the Savior's love. Think about it. If you who are so blessed in so many ways have moments of feeling unloved, what about all those other people who struggle every day just to survive? What about those families who are ripped apart by divorce or illness or addiction or death? If you feel unloved, show love to someone else who might need it. You'll feel better and so will they.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_MyC6kJzPg - Unfailing Love by Chris Tomlin
You have my heart
And I am Yours forever
You are my strength
God of grace and power
And I am Yours forever
You are my strength
God of grace and power
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My unfailing love
Unfailing love
The Holy One
My unfailing love
Unfailing love
You are my rock
The one I hold on to
You are my song
And I sing for You
The one I hold on to
You are my song
And I sing for You
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still you make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
Still you make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love
I will praise You
Praise you God of earth and sky
How beautiful is your unfailing love
Unfailing love
Praise you God of earth and sky
How beautiful is your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Exodus 20:6
But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
Exodus 34:6
The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
Psalm 5:12
For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.
For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.
Psalm 25:7
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.
Psalm 31:7
I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.
I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.
Isaiah 54:8b
But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”says the Lord, your Redeemer.
Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then My faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”says the Lord, who has mercy on you.
For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then My faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”says the Lord, who has mercy on you.
Ephesians 1:3-5
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted
to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.
Ephesians 2:4-5
But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
Ephesians 3:10-19
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display His wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which He carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
and so on and so on and so on..... so many verses about God unfailing love.
Prayer:
Holy God, how many times have You told me through Scripture "I love you with my unfailing, never changing love"? When will I start believing You? I can't comprehend that the Creator of the Universe, who holds all things together with just a word, You, Almighty God, would love me, a sinner. I'm am in awe and so very, very thankful.
Father, please give me the power to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. Please help me experience the love of Christ, though I know it is too great for me to ever fully understand. Make me complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You, my loving Father. Thank You for the ultimate proof of your love, the sacrifice of Your precious Son so that I could be forgiven and made righteous through His blood and righteousness. Oh, what an amazing love!.
What an amazing Savior! All praise and glory to You forever and ever! Amen.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Who am I?
http://youtu.be/mBcqria2wmg - Who am I? - Casting Crowns
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
11 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
I don't begin to think that I have all the answers about predestination or election. I do know that the idea of God choosing us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in vs 4 makes me feel loved and especially cared for. He chose me to be His precious child!
Verse 5 says He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ "according to the purpose of His will". Again in verse 9 we see that same phrase - "according to the purpose of His will". This first chapter of Ephesians makes it clear that according to the will of the Father, we are chosen, predestined to be His children (through adoption in Christ Jesus).
We have obtained an inhertiance having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will so that we who hope in Christ might praise His glorious Name. "To the praise of His glory" is another phrase we see several times in this passage (1:6, 12, 14). He chose us for all the spiritual blessings we read about in Chapter 1 and our response to so great a blessing should always be thanksgiving and praise. When we praise Him we lift up His glorious Name. How can we who have been adopted by the Father because of what Jesus did not praise Him continually?
Ephesians 1 shows us how the Father chooses/predestines us, the Son redeems us and then the Holy Spirit indwells in us, sealing us for the inheritance we will receive (vs 13). How can we not praise God?
Predestination shouldn't scare us; it should bring us comfort to know that before the foundation of the world, God the Father had a plan. He chose us to be His children through the work of Christ, our Redeemer. The Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - One Holy God co-existing in 3 persons - has a plan. HE has lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight, making it known to us the mystery of His will - according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to UNITE all things in Christ, things in heaven and on earth.
We are chosen to be His ambassadors of praise so that others can come to know our loving God. Our lives should be living testimonies to His great purpose and love for His children. When we get the love thing right, people around us will be drawn to our LORD. We will be One, united in Him, just as HE purposed before the foundation of the world.
Verses 15 begins with "For this reason" . What reason? Because God presdestined us to be His children through Christ and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit so that we can rest assured in the Hope we have that comes from belonging to Christ.
Romans 8:28:30
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.
Doesn't that bring comfort to you as a believer? All things work together for good just as He purposed before the foundation of the world. He really does have the whole world in His hands. God is Sovereign and His plan will not be thrwarted. Our job is praise Him for His great love so that others will come to know His amazing plan for them, too.
Holy God! I praise Your glorious Name! You are my gracious Father, my wonderful Savior, my constant Comforter and Strength! How can I fail to praise You with all I am? Be lifted up in my life today so that others can see Your love in me and come to know You more intimately. Help us believers to become One, just as you are One.
Gorious God I am thankful for all those whom You have chosen to be Your witnesses and I do not cease to give thanks for them, remembering them in my prayers. I pray that You, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give them the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of our Savior, so that they will have the eyes of their hearts enlightened, that they may know what is the hope to which You have called us, and they will know the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints. God please help them to understand the immeasurable greatness of Your power toward us who believe, according to the working of Your great might that was worked in Christ when You raised Him from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Holy God, You have put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Praise Your Holy Name!
http://youtu.be/mBcqria2wmg - Who am I? - Casting Crowns
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
Ephesians 1 - ESV
Greeting1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8 which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.11 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.I don't begin to think that I have all the answers about predestination or election. I do know that the idea of God choosing us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in vs 4 makes me feel loved and especially cared for. He chose me to be His precious child!
Verse 5 says He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ "according to the purpose of His will". Again in verse 9 we see that same phrase - "according to the purpose of His will". This first chapter of Ephesians makes it clear that according to the will of the Father, we are chosen, predestined to be His children (through adoption in Christ Jesus).
We have obtained an inhertiance having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will so that we who hope in Christ might praise His glorious Name. "To the praise of His glory" is another phrase we see several times in this passage (1:6, 12, 14). He chose us for all the spiritual blessings we read about in Chapter 1 and our response to so great a blessing should always be thanksgiving and praise. When we praise Him we lift up His glorious Name. How can we who have been adopted by the Father because of what Jesus did not praise Him continually?
Ephesians 1 shows us how the Father chooses/predestines us, the Son redeems us and then the Holy Spirit indwells in us, sealing us for the inheritance we will receive (vs 13). How can we not praise God?
Predestination shouldn't scare us; it should bring us comfort to know that before the foundation of the world, God the Father had a plan. He chose us to be His children through the work of Christ, our Redeemer. The Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - One Holy God co-existing in 3 persons - has a plan. HE has lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight, making it known to us the mystery of His will - according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to UNITE all things in Christ, things in heaven and on earth.
We are chosen to be His ambassadors of praise so that others can come to know our loving God. Our lives should be living testimonies to His great purpose and love for His children. When we get the love thing right, people around us will be drawn to our LORD. We will be One, united in Him, just as HE purposed before the foundation of the world.
Verses 15 begins with "For this reason" . What reason? Because God presdestined us to be His children through Christ and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit so that we can rest assured in the Hope we have that comes from belonging to Christ.
Romans 8:28:30
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.
Doesn't that bring comfort to you as a believer? All things work together for good just as He purposed before the foundation of the world. He really does have the whole world in His hands. God is Sovereign and His plan will not be thrwarted. Our job is praise Him for His great love so that others will come to know His amazing plan for them, too.
Holy God! I praise Your glorious Name! You are my gracious Father, my wonderful Savior, my constant Comforter and Strength! How can I fail to praise You with all I am? Be lifted up in my life today so that others can see Your love in me and come to know You more intimately. Help us believers to become One, just as you are One.
Gorious God I am thankful for all those whom You have chosen to be Your witnesses and I do not cease to give thanks for them, remembering them in my prayers. I pray that You, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give them the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of our Savior, so that they will have the eyes of their hearts enlightened, that they may know what is the hope to which You have called us, and they will know the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints. God please help them to understand the immeasurable greatness of Your power toward us who believe, according to the working of Your great might that was worked in Christ when You raised Him from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Holy God, You have put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Praise Your Holy Name!
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